If you could have superpowers, what would they be? Supervision, mind reading, super speed, or even shooting lasers from your eyes? Or maybe you’re like 9-year-old Jo, whose ideal superpower would be, to take to the skies.
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Supa Modo premiered in 2018 at the 68th Berlin International Film Festival and has since screened in 30 (and counting) film festivals across the globe, winning multiple awards. It was produced by One Fine Day films in collaboration with Ginger Ink.
The film, directed by Likarion Wainaina, opens with an action sequence from a Kung Fu film being watched a group of children. Among the children, we meet Jo, a 9-year-old girl animatedly debating with a friend about who is superior between Batman and Bruce Lee. The conclusion is Batman because ‘superheroes never die.’
Jo, however, is a child facing difficulties as she is battling cancer and her mother is keen to make sure she is always within the safety of the home, being careful given her illness, as she lives her life in the close-knit community of Maweni town.
Her lonely days are brightened by the camaraderie shared with her sister Mwix who encourages her to believe that she does indeed have superpowers. Following a series of events, the community comes together to produce a superhero movie starring Jo, alongside various residents of Maweni. Giving us, the audience, a film within a film.
The protagonist was originally scripted as a boy but upon discovering the raw talent of Stycie Waweru, she was cast as the lead. Despite this being her first film, Stycie was fully committed to the role, and even shaved off her hair to accurately depict the realities of cancer treatment.
Supa Modo was built on the foundation of a powerfully human script that ebbs, flows and introduces us to an array of multi-layered characters. The combined excellence of all departments and moving performances give rise to an immersive experience worthy of the global acclaim it has received.
An interview with the film’s director Likarion Wainaina at the 14th Zurich Film Festival 2018, gave some insight into the ‘behind the scenes’ of the film. The original script took a different approach following a visit to Kenyatta hospital’s cancer ward where he and the writing team engaged with the children admitted there. It took 4 months of script development to arrive at the final draft. The production itself was executed by a 75 person crew over 23 days. This meant working long hours on set and demanded meticulous preparation of the large committed crew. In the interview, he expressed that for him, “it’s not about the critics, it’s not about the awards, it’s about if these kids can connect with this movie, because, it’s for them.”
This film serves as a reminder on the frailty of human life, the importance of community and the power of child-like wonder.
Supa Modo: ‘Heroes live forever.’
