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Nairobi Half Life: My Thoughts on this Kenyan Movie

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Last Saturday, I got to watch a Kenyan movie, Nairobi Half Life.

Basically, the movie is about Nairobi living, depicted through the experiences of a young rural boy called Mwas who leaves his gichagi and heads for Nairobi in search of a better life. And a life he does indeed get, but now the quality of that life is something else altogether.

In all honesty, the movie is good. I liked it. Lots. If you’ve been born and bred in Nairobi, the movie will warm your heart as you have lots of nostalgic moments as this movie is a mirror of kawaida Nairobi life. And if you’re like the main character who migrated to Nairobi in search of greener pastures, then you too will totally enjoy the movie as some of your experiences will most likely resonate with those of Mwas.

The movie is tainted with lots of issues that characterize daily Nairobi living – theft, corruption, prostitution, carjacking, (and you get to see lot’s of carjacking moves that I had no idea about – very educative I must say for aspiring thugs), booze, joblessness, living a double-life etc etc.

What did I like most? The camera work. It’s superb. Just awesome. And the scripting too is good.

What did I think they could have done better? The subtitles. There’s just something not right about them. I’m talking about the subtitles at the beginning of the movie when the characters are speaking in vernacular. The subtitles are not exactly easily legible, and you have to put in quite some effort to read them, at the same time ensuring that you don’t get passed by the images. If they could make them bolder or  highlight them maybe in color yellow? then I think that would be a little better.

Most of the characters in the movie are familiar faces from local productions like Tahidi High, Papa Shirandula, the Power Breakfast Show, Tabasamu, Machachari , SIRI, Mashtaka… (uuummmm have you noticed these shows are all on Citizen TV), (and yes, I always tune in to these local shows).

Now now now, there is one lady whose character shocked the living chickens out of me. You know that girl who is akina Papa Shirandula’s housegirl – I forget her name – but the one who is always being mistreated by Wilbroda? You should see the character she plays in this movie, mayoooooooooooooo! That caught me by surprise why lie. And her mouth can really run I tell you!

Anyways, the movie is a good one, and if you can, please do make time to go watch it. I watched it at Westgate, I donno if it’s showing elsewhere. But it’s a really good production.

What did I learn from this movie? That we should constantly pray for our children. That’s all I can say.

Here’s the trailer:

Last Saturday, I got to watch a Kenyan movie, Nairobi Half Life.

Basically, the movie is about Nairobi living, depicted through the experiences of a young rural boy called Mwas who leaves his gichagi and heads for Nairobi in search of a better life. And a life he does indeed get, but now the quality of that life is something else altogether.

In all honesty, the movie is good. I liked it. Lots. If you’ve been born and bred in Nairobi, the movie will warm your heart as you have lots of nostalgic moments as this movie is a mirror of kawaida Nairobi life. And if you’re like the main character who migrated to Nairobi in search of greener pastures, then you too will totally enjoy the movie as some of your experiences will most likely resonate with those of Mwas.

The movie is tainted with lots of issues that characterize daily Nairobi living – theft, corruption, prostitution, carjacking, (and you get to see lot’s of carjacking moves that I had no idea about – very educative I must say for aspiring thugs), booze, joblessness, living a double-life etc etc.

What did I like most? The camera work. It’s superb. Just awesome. And the scripting too is good.

What did I think they could have done better? The subtitles. There’s just something not right about them. I’m talking about the subtitles at the beginning of the movie when the characters are speaking in vernacular. The subtitles are not exactly easily legible, and you have to put in quite some effort to read them, at the same time ensuring that you don’t get passed by the images. If they could make them bolder or  highlight them maybe in color yellow? then I think that would be a little better.

Most of the characters in the movie are familiar faces from local productions like Tahidi High, Papa Shirandula, the Power Breakfast Show, Tabasamu, Machachari , SIRI, Mashtaka… (uuummmm have you noticed these shows are all on Citizen TV), (and yes, I always tune in to these local shows).

Now now now, there is one lady whose character shocked the living chickens out of me. You know that girl who is akina Papa Shirandula’s housegirl – I forget her name – but the one who is always being mistreated by Wilbroda? You should see the character she plays in this movie, mayoooooooooooooo! That caught me by surprise why lie. And her mouth can really run I tell you!

Anyways, the movie is a good one, and if you can, please do make time to go watch it. I watched it at Westgate, I donno if it’s showing elsewhere. But it’s a really good production.

What did I learn from this movie? That we should constantly pray for our children. That’s all I can say.

Here’s the trailer:

Last Saturday, I got to watch a Kenyan movie, Nairobi Half Life.

Basically, the movie is about Nairobi living, depicted through the experiences of a young rural boy called Mwas who leaves his gichagi and heads for Nairobi in search of a better life. And a life he does indeed get, but now the quality of that life is something else altogether.

In all honesty, the movie is good. I liked it. Lots. If you’ve been born and bred in Nairobi, the movie will warm your heart as you have lots of nostalgic moments as this movie is a mirror of kawaida Nairobi life. And if you’re like the main character who migrated to Nairobi in search of greener pastures, then you too will totally enjoy the movie as some of your experiences will most likely resonate with those of Mwas.

The movie is tainted with lots of issues that characterize daily Nairobi living – theft, corruption, prostitution, carjacking, (and you get to see lot’s of carjacking moves that I had no idea about – very educative I must say for aspiring thugs), booze, joblessness, living a double-life etc etc.

What did I like most? The camera work. It’s superb. Just awesome. And the scripting too is good.

What did I think they could have done better? The subtitles. There’s just something not right about them. I’m talking about the subtitles at the beginning of the movie when the characters are speaking in vernacular. The subtitles are not exactly easily legible, and you have to put in quite some effort to read them, at the same time ensuring that you don’t get passed by the images. If they could make them bolder or  highlight them maybe in color yellow? then I think that would be a little better.

Most of the characters in the movie are familiar faces from local productions like Tahidi High, Papa Shirandula, the Power Breakfast Show, Tabasamu, Machachari , SIRI, Mashtaka… (uuummmm have you noticed these shows are all on Citizen TV), (and yes, I always tune in to these local shows).

Now now now, there is one lady whose character shocked the living chickens out of me. You know that girl who is akina Papa Shirandula’s housegirl – I forget her name – but the one who is always being mistreated by Wilbroda? You should see the character she plays in this movie, mayoooooooooooooo! That caught me by surprise why lie. And her mouth can really run I tell you!

Anyways, the movie is a good one, and if you can, please do make time to go watch it. I watched it at Westgate, I donno if it’s showing elsewhere. But it’s a really good production.

What did I learn from this movie? That we should constantly pray for our children. That’s all I can say.

Here’s the trailer:

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Maryanne W. Waweru is a Kenyan mum raising her two sons in Nairobi. A journalist, Maryanne is passionate about telling stories and hopes that through her writing, her readers learn something new, feel encouraged, inspired, and appreciative of what they have in their lives. Maryanne's writing focuses on motherhood, women and lifestyle. "Telling stories is the only thing I know how to do," she says.

6 COMMENTS

  1. Well well well, totally loved this trailer, they should start a distribution company in Kenya. Because us Diasporas are missing out. I need this movie in my life.

  2. @Barbra in typical Nairobi fashion style, I’m sure a Nairobian will soon ensure that you and others in the diaspora get a copy soon….if you know what I mean 😉

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