In 2008, a short Kenyan film called Subira came to life on the big screen during the African Film Festival in Brussels. The short film became an instant success, going on to win 15 international awards, including two awards in France’s Amiens International Film Festival, and two awards in Spain’s Tarifa-Tangier African Film Festival. In addition, Subira became the first Kenyan film to be screened at renowned Cannes Film Festival.
Buoyed by the positive reception to this heartfelt story director, Sippy Chadha was inspired to turn the short story into a full-length feature film; but this was no easy feat. After working on the script for four years, and on production for another four years, 99 minute-long version of the story was finally complete.
Along the shores of Lamu Island, we meet Subira, portrayed by Brenda Wairimu. Subira is a young free willed girl on the cusp of womanhood. Her upbringing in this coastal setting and her close-knit relationship with her fisherman father inspires her love for swimming. But this does not bode well with Mwana (Nice Githinji), her mother, who believes that Subira should focus on perfecting her house keeping skills. For Mwana, nothing is more important than for her daughter to land a suitable husband when the time comes.
As is customary, when she turns 18, Subira undergoes an arranged marriage. Her new husband, Taufiq (Tirath Padam), is a progressive minded man. While this complements Subira’s personality, his views, particularly on women, are considered far too liberal especially by his father. A short while into her happily ever after, Subira’s longing for swimming returns, and she takes to the water to quench this thirst, pun intended. But this decision leads her to a crossroad in her life, where she has to makes some tough choices and save what truly matters to her.
The struggle Subira undergoes is similar to that of many women who come from conservative communities. According to Sippy Chadha, the film was inspired by her own experience of growing up in a traditional Indian family. While the film does not shy away from tackling societal issues such as gender roles, it still draws a fine line of being mindful of the Swahili culture in its portrayal of this theme. Subira was a passion project for Sippy and through this work, the world was able to see her point of view.
After a decade the film finally hit Nairobi theatres on November 2018, and lived up to all the expectations set. The quality of the picture, the storyline, and the performances are a testament to the commitment and diligence that went into this production.
That year, the film went on to win five Kalasha Awards, including Best Feature Film. It was also selected by the Kenya Film Commission as the Kenyan entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards. Despite not receiving a nomination, it still goes to show that this film tugged at the heartstrings of many. Have you watched Subira? What were your thoughts on it? Comment below and let us know!
