Nairobi Half Life

I loved this movie....it had it all. It told a great moral lesson to our youth that humility and a sense of humor will carry you much further in life than a fancy car, a handgun, or flashy clothing. The other thing I so enjoyed was the recurring theme that people with "old fashioned" values coupled with a dash of wit and a friendly smile, will often triumph in the end. This movie was an amalgam of Mr. Smith goes to Washington and Slum Dog Millionaire for telling the tale of a country bumpkin trying to make his way in a big bad City. The comparison of "country" vs. "city" morals isn't lost on the audience and the director does a good lob of leading you to the correct conclusion that old fashioned values of honesty, charity, and humility are best. THe movie also treats the issues of poverty and corruption in a direct and honest way. What sets this movie apart is that the viewer experiences these very graphic depictions of life in the slum of a developing country in the context of what is otherwise an incredibly positive and uplifting message. The production crew deserve a great deal of credit for making a masterpiece on what I expect was a shoestring budget.

Nairobi Half Life does not boast an original premise. A young kid from rural Kenya with dreams of moving to the city(Nairobi) and becoming an actor.

What immediately differentiates it from other local films and a lot of international films is how it casts an unforgiving realistic eye on the protagonists life and actions. The movie does an excellent job of examining the underbelly of suffering and desperation in the country, from personal struggles of the youth to larger hurdles the nation is trying to leap; all the while narrating a story that will take you through a full range of genuine emotions before leaving you somewhat inspired and in some form of reflection.

The actors are commendable in their performances and bar one minor continuity error (or two), the storytelling is superb.

I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a different African cinematic experience.

I have a full length review on my website, should you care for more details

Was able to watch this gem at last year's Dubai International Film Festival. By the end of the screening, I was sure that this had to be my favorite movie in the festival. The performances were fine. And this being a trial-and-error sort of attempt for the filmmakers, Nairobi Half Life was really good than one can expect. The story is solid, and probably the best part of the experience. And best part is, the director manages to tag as long for a journey throughout Nairobi, from the police jail cells, the slums, to the gangster infested roads, it is like visiting Nairobi after all. Everyone in the audience loved it. If the film is playing near you, please go watch it.

In Kenyan film and TV industry, no other film has had the ratings that NHF has had, even at the local box office. It shows and refutes claims that Kenyans do not buy what is local, goes on to show there's a great market for film, and the possibilities are endless. Give people something they can relate to; directly or otherwise, you shall keep smiling. It shows there's hunger for content among Kenyan consumers. The hash tag #NHF and #NairobiHalfLife trended for a while after the premiere. It serves and acts as the bar to reach in Kenyan film making. Judging by the reviews and feedback from film festivals, a masterpiece. Outstanding performances by Mws (Joseph Wairimu) and Oti (Maina Olwenya). Audience appeal top notch, execution thumbs up to Tosh Gitonga. A must watch.

How has this scored 7.4 on here? I would question the varacity of the scoring of this. Are other movies so blatantly over rated?

The acting was terrible, the storyline contrived and muddled and the characters where cheap stereotypes. While I enjoy experiencing cinema from different cultures this had very little of merit.

Other reviews mention the morality and standards laid down for a younger audience, I'm amazed. The main character turns to crime while he pursues his dream of being an actor and falls in love with the whole with a heart. This storyline has been told a thousand times and mostly in a much better manner than this. I struggled to stay awake watching this and couldn't in all honesty reccomend this to anyone.