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Some will dismiss Wanuri Kahiu’s Rafiki as derivative simply because they refuse to see what makes it so special. They’ll mention its Romeo and Juliet parallel as far as having the children of opposing political candidates fall in love. They’ll compare it to generic love stories—and generic gay love stories—because that’s what it is at its core. And when the subject of prejudice and violence towards these young lovers arises, they won’t shy from deeming it already treaded territory. What such reductive takes ignore, however, is that this isn’t just a gay love story between two women who should be diametrically opposed to one another due to their fathers’ ambitions. The fact it takes place and was shot in Nairobi, Kenya makes it so much more.

This truth isn’t reliant on the political ramifications spawned upon its Cannes release either—although...

"I've seen how you look at me." Film Movement has released an official Us trailer for the acclaimed indie drama Rafiki, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival last year and received quite a bit of attention as the first film from Kenya to ever play in the festival. From writer/director Wanuri Kahiu, the film is about a romance between two young girls in Kenya, still considered a taboo and choice that likely may lead to violence. Samantha Mugatsia and Sheila Munyiva star as the two leads, named Kena and Ziki, and the full cast includes Neville Misati, Nice Githinji, Charlie Karumi, Muthoni Gathecha, and Vitalis Waweru. This received mixed reviews out of Cannes (here's mine), as it's a bit conventional and cliche, but has some incredibly colorful style and it's an important milestone for Kenyan cinema. Check this out below. Here's the official Us trailer (+ poster) for Wanuri Kahiu's Rafiki,...

Seven series selected for TV strand.

The Berlin Film Festival (Feb 15-25) has unveiled the seven titles set to be screened in this year’s Berlinale Series programme.

Source: Hulu

The Looming Tower

Opening the festival’s TV strand is Australian series Picnic At Hanging Rock, FremantleMedia’s Natalie Dormer-starring TV adaptation of Joan Lindsay’s 1967 novel, which previously spawned Peter Weir’s Bafta-winning 1975 feature.

The series tells the story of a strict headmistress at a boarding school whose dark past catches up with her after three pupils mysteriously disappear during a school outing.

Also in the selection is Legendary Television and broadcaster Hulu’s The Looming Tower, which is based on Lawrence Wright’s Pulitzer prize-winning book of the same name. Chronicling the lead-up to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the series stars Jeff Daniels as counter terrorism expert John O’Neill and is being exec produced by Alex Gibney.

Further series in the...