On an empty road in the middle of the night, Shula stumbles across the body of her uncle. As funeral proceedings begin around them, she and her cousins bring to light the buried secrets of their middle-class Zambian family.
Susan Chardy
Shula
Elizabeth Chisela
Nsansa
Henry B.J. Phiri
Shula's Father
Roy Chisha
Uncle Fred
Blessings Bhamjee
Young Shula
Doris Naulapwa
Shula's Mother
Benson Mumba
Joseph
Chungu Bwalya
Farm Club Presenter 1
Margaret Mulubwa
Farm Club Presenter 2
Mary Mulabo
Beatrice
Norah Mwansa
Widow / Chichi
Hildah Mwanza
Matron 1
Febby Lungu
Matron 2
Gillian Sakala
Aunty Ruth
Carol Natasha Mwale
Aunty Catherine
Loveness Nakwiza
Aunty Linda
Bwalya Chipampata
Aunty Bukata
Faustina Tembo
Gossiping Woman 1
Justina Mudenda
Gossiping Woman 2
Esther Yobe
Musonda
Sombo Kapole
Mapalo
Stella Njolomba
Aunty Sampa
Benson Mshanga
Coal Man
Aaron Sakala
Boarding House Security Guard
Cathy Mazambani
Female Student
Esther Singini
Bupe
Mwaale Chendende
Farm Club Kid
Fred Mumba
Print Shop Owner
Dinah Kayumba
Aunty 1
Edwidge Lunkoto
Aunty 2
Andrew Simutinta
Young Man 1
Brian Muleya
Young Man 2
Ethel Banda
Female Student
Ezekiel Banda
Uncle Enoch
Salati Phiri
Uncle Lucky
Geliate Mwale
Uncle Gabriel
Grace Phiri
Widow's Friend
Margaret Khonje
Ba Doreen
Gracious Kalema
Subi
Patience Kalema
Chiko
Samuel Tembo
Jonas
Malita Mulenga
Widow's Grandmother
Travers Merrill
Farm Club Storyteller
Elizabeth Mubita
Praying Woman 1
Dinah Mbao
Praying Woman 2
Royce Mutentwa Habeenzu
Widow's Aunty 1
Queen Chimimba
Aunty Stella
Victor Phiri
Uncle VIncent
Henry Kapinga
Uncle David
Johnny Mulenga
Uncle John
Mark Mbewe
Widow's Uncle
Agatha Mweemba
Aunty Moyo
Agness Phiri
Widow's Aunty 2
Director, Writer
Rungano Nyoni
December 7, 2024
7
"Shula" (Susan Chardy) is returning from a fancy dress party late one evening when she encounters a corpse on the road. A quick investigation reveals the body as that of her "Uncle Fred". She doesn't appear terribly upset at the news and neither does her partying father when she calls to tell him! Her evening doesn't get any better with the arrival of her drunken cousin "Nsansa" (Elizabeth Chisela) and when the police tell her they don't have enough vehicles to come and deal with it til the morning, she has to sleep in her car. What follows now sees us immersed in some of the rituals and traditions of a Zambian funeral, with grief - real and not so real - presented in a semi-comedic mix of ancient and modern behaviour. What also become clear is that "Shula" has a reason for her indifference and that this family, indeed their whole village, has unsavoury secrets to keep. What was curious for me, given the nature of the man's behaviour, was the extent to which the men were largely oblivious and the women almost entirely defensive of his true nature. Not of his behaviour in life, but of his reputation thereafter. He was clearly no great loss, yet his sisters grieve profoundly and lay the blame for his death squarely at his much younger wife who obviously hadn't looked after him properly. What's this to to with a guinea fowl, you might ask? Well it appears that they frequently serve as an early warning system for wildlife when predators approach, and so the allegory with the characterisation of "Shula" is clear to see as the story shines a light on established patterns of behaviour that still consider women as chattels. Aside from some engaging light-relief from the almost permanently sozzled "Nsansa", there isn't really enough development of the personas here and there's also not so much dialogue, per se. Just a great deal of plausible family chatter, angst and wailing amongst a community that treats death respectfully as the photography gets it's sleeves rolled up and takes us quite effectively into this bereft commune where there are spoils to be had, too. A lot of this is left to our own imagination and judgement, which is fine but a little lazy on the part of the writers who maybe hadn't quite the courage of their convictions when it came to delivering a more directly potent thrust, but it's still well worth a watch.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00