Lost in Time

In Kenya, our films don’t just range from comedies to dramas, our creative geniuses aka writers and filmmakers are also known to surprise us with different story and movie genres.
Towards the end of 2019, a group of Kenyans, led by writer Edijoe Mwaniki and director Peter Kawa, came together to create a psychological thriller called ‘Lost in Time’.

Sam’s (George Mo) nightmares are getting the best of him. His dreams involve his daughter Sifa (Natasha Sakawa), presumably lost, who he keeps looking for. When he wakes in the middle of the night, panting with beads of sweat dotted on his forehead, his wife (Sheila Murugi) too is distraught. She encourages him with a promise to pray for him but Sam scoffs at the remark. Shortly after, he gets word that a member of his immediate family has passed on and funeral preparations commence. However, after the solemn event, invited by unresolved issues with the bereaved, Sam’s nightmares resume with occasional fits of anger and he leaps in and out of states of paranoia, leaving his wife and neighbours concerned about his well-being.

The story takes a different approach toward a rather sensitive topic, inviting audiences to understand the place from which Sam’s anger stems from, a possible effect of lack of closure in a family setting. The dialogue between characters is realistic and relatable, and allows room for a few questions, as any good psychological thriller would.

Set in an unknown rural area, the familiarity of the green countryside is Kenyan through and through, and might give anyone that loves traveling upcountry a sense of nostalgia.
As for the themes explored, if you’re keen on the evolution of stories presently being told, mental health has been brought to the fore front. With information shared, and perspectives shown, this film is an indication of a writer and filmmaker’s use of their superpowers to address a prominent issue.

This #KeProduct took two years to complete and premiered on October 24th 2019 at Anga Cinemas in Nairobi. It screened for nine days and thereafter the creators took it to Mega Cinemas in Kisumu before another screening took place in Nairobi Cinema late December. What was more exciting about it was the reception, ‘Lost in Time’ garnered ten nominations at the Kalasha 2019 Nominations. Of the number, it was awarded as the Best Feature Film; Peter Kawa received the award for Best Director, while George Mo was applauded as Best Actor; Edijoe Mwaniki took the Best Screenplay award, and Karanja Kiare for Best Sound Design.

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