NAWI

Nawi‘s aspirations of attending high school are shattered when she learns that her father Eree plans to marry her off to a stranger. 

Despite her family‘s necessity for the bride wealth – symbolised by a substantial amount of livestock – Nawi refuses to accept her fate and resists against this arranged child marriage.  Her steadfast ally in this struggle is her brother and closest friend, Joel. 

However, Nawi‘s father remains entrenched in tribal traditions, swayed by the counsel of uncles, stepbrothers, and the elders of the clan.  Even her three mothers, constrained by their roles as women, believe that being a wife is Nawi‘s destined path. In a bold move, Nawi flees on her wedding night. Pursued by her own family, she embarks on a journey towards Nairobi, clinging to her dream of a promising future.

But her sense of responsibility tugs her back when news arrives that her newly-born sister will have to take Nawi’s place in the impending marriage.

Nawi returns home to confront her family and husband, an idea in mind to rewrite the fate of countless child brides.

CREW

Directed by

Toby Schmutzler

Kevin Schmutzler

Vallentine Chelluget

Apuu Mourine

Written by

Milcah Cherotich

Produced by

Lydia Wrensch

Caroline Heim

Brizan Were

Executive producers

Ludwig Bayern

Steven Haft

Katja Eichinger

Matthias Rosenberger

Service producers

Kamau Wandung‘u (Nairobi)

Steven Kizee (Loropio)

Music by

Amadeus Indetzki

Apuu Mourine

Cinematography by

Klaus Kneist

Renata Mwende

Art design by

Erixon Kangethe

Korodi Esinyen

Make-up design by

Mercy Ng‘endo

Costume design by

Viva Njeri Kimotho

Sound by

Roman Pogozelski

Edited by

Toby Schmutzler