FILM REVIEWS

Rooted in theatre, Millicent Ogutu's directorial debut examines how communication and conflict shape the life cycle of a relationship.

A hardened taxi driver confronts trauma, survival and identity in the unforgiving rhythms of Lagos.

The South African examines how Nelson Mandela's politics continue to resonate in contemporary struggles.

Journalist and co-director Bea Wangondu confronts land dispossession, family history, and the lasting impact of colonial injustice.

Kenya's 'Memory of Princess Mumbi' and Nigeria’s 'My Father’s Shadow' are among our critics' best African films of the year.

'Milisuthando' remains undeniably a film of bold, searching ideas, full of unresolved beauty.

A young couple grapples with trauma in this Kenyan psychological thriller from Allan Bosire.

An unflinching account of Kenya’s year-long uprising that defined 2024.

The film is directed by two-time Oscar-winner Ben Proudfoot, and executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama.

A chance encounter with a photographer becomes a testament to the power of memory, and a reminder of what it means to honour a legacy.

A family reunion turns into a chilling nightmare of deep-rooted secrets, buried resentments, and inherited trauma.

The captures the tenderness of family and the quiet turbulence of a country on the edge of change.

Benson returns to the community torn apart by the 2014 abductions, documenting the mothers who continue to live, work and hope.

Three Ivorian women and a little girl navigate racism, faith, and belonging in Tunisia.

In this hybrid documentary directed by five filmmakers, memory and imagination converge to rebuild a city’s identity.

A Sudanese immigrant struggles to survive in Cairo in Morad Mostafa’s feature debut.

The film stands as a vital and deeply affecting work that documents a lingering legacy that continues to define South African life.

Ultimately, the film feels like both recognition and reconciliation, bridging the distance between generations.

The film aspires to be a bold, unflinching portrait of the disenfranchised.

Two women work to restore one of Nairobi's most iconic libraries, and a former whites-only space.

Everything in 'The Voice of Hind Rajab,' is choreographed from lived trauma.

Set in 2093, the story follows a love triangle between a film director, an aspiring actress and a prince.

'Nome' was one of 13 African films screened in the inaugural Africa-focused Open Doors section at the 2025 Locarno Film Festival.

A troupe of misfit dancers, led by a fearless frontman, try to figure their way through life amid the chaotic and unfiltered slavery of modern Lagos.

When Shula stumbles upon her uncle’s body, the funeral unravels buried abuse and family secrets.

This documentary explores how brilliant minds from Global South countries like Kenya power the billion-dollar ghostwriting industry.

Trevor Sagide's psychological horror short unravels a disturbing tale of captivity disguised as love.

This tender documentary explores fatherhood, masculinity, love, and legacy across Zimbabwe and Botswana.

This documentary honours the pain and power of the women at its centre and brings to light conversations that urgently need to be amplified.

This documentary explores the repatriation of Beninese artifacts and the meaning of return.

This 2024 Nigerian film delivers political urgency and visual beauty, even if its narrative at times falters under the weight of its message.

Sayari is a charming Kenyan rom-com that leans on strong chemistry from its leads to deliver a feel-good love story.

Visually striking yet frustratingly hollow, this film explores Kenyan culture with an emotional depth that remains just out of reach.

Four short films explore stories on bodily autonomy, justice and self-discovery among young people.

The film boldly showcases the potential of Kenyan cinema through genre diversity and innovative techniques.

From Philit Productions, the film spares no detail in depicting the psychological and physical toll of abuse.

Sketchy Africans charms with humour and a lovable ensemble, delivering laughs despite its narrative flaws.

The film's initial premise, though familiar, was ripe for unique exploration, but like '40 Sticks' before it, it seems obsessed with delivering its final twist at the expense of the...

This documentary follows Wanjugu Kimathi's quest to find the remains of her father, legendary freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi.

This documentary explores Kenya's land conflict through the eyes of a young boy, blending personal grief with broader societal issues.

Charming and full of whimsy, this film thrives on a rhythmic cultural sensitivity that works despite its imperfections.

The Battle for Laikipia explores colonial legacies and land rights between pastoralists and white settlers in Kenya amid climate change.

After she falls for an internet romance scam, love blossoms between a lonely British woman and a boda boda driver in Nairobi.

'Nawi' explores the lives of girls in Turkana from a perspective previously limited to news banners and filtered discussions.

Mohamed Kordofani transports his audience into the heart of Sudan's complex socio-political landscape, reflecting on heartbreaking yet resonating themes embedded in the country's cultural and historical realities.

Oscars 2024 Best International Feature nominee 'Io Capitano' details the ghastly journey of African immigrants to Europe.

In his feature debut, Baloji contrives a mythical fable that seeks to question the very ideals from which our spirituality is derived.

Kenya's second Christmas feature follows the Nyatis as they prepare for the ultimate choir competition.

This is a film that relies too heavily on the familiarity of its cast to hide the blemishes in everything else.

The film chronicles the first year of half a dozen boys forced to defend themselves against a sea of opposition and personal trials in high school.

This documentary captures the life of Ugandan-musician-turned-opposition-politician Bobi Wine and his fight for his people.

Marking Daudi Anguka’s feature directorial debut, Mvera is a triumph for Kenyan cinema, and deservedly our official entry to Oscars 2024.

'An Instant Dad' earns its laughst and heart, and even those without a penchant for sentimentality might find themselves shedding a tear or two.

As the first Nigerian title to rank number one globally on Netflix, this film is a triumph for Nollywood, and for Africa, despite its flaws.

A wonderfully made documentary about a rather questionable experiment conducted in a small rural village in Western Kenya.

This film would be more impactful if it didn't push its evangelical agenda at the expense of the Luo culture it's set in.

In this ZIFF Best Feature winner, an elderly widower struggles to hold onto his fading memories as those close to him scheme for his land.

'The Caller' is the kind of movie with all the right technical ingredients and an easily digestible plot worth every minute of a casual evening.

Films like this not only stir up conversations on taboo topics, they also raise the question of humanity and what little is left.

A mafia film strongly rooted in the Nigerian climate that doesn't try to reinvent itself like every gangster flick post-The Godfather.

'Safari' is a tear-jerking tale that embraces simple virtues that seem to have been forgotten by modern cinema and the modern world.

'Neptune Frost' feels like it's set at the right time, in not just human history but African history too.

Our film critic Kelvin Kariuki ranks the six short films from Netflix's 'African Folktales Reimagined' collection.

'Married to Work' is the latest Pan-African title on Netflix that leaves your memory as quickly as it enters it.

Even the drawbacks of the film feel like an intentional choice to avoid the voices of adults from diluting what is simply a story of a boy.

Sacrificing plot for beauty, 'Disconnect 2' chooses to simple not care for story at all.

Even with all the raw materials for a powerful emotional story, 'Christmas Love' feels underwhelming.

'A Familiar Christmas' is simple enough to allow a family to glide in and out in the middle of watching it instead of worrying about the plot.

'No Simple Way Home' feels like what happens when true filmmakers seek out genuine stories and end up finding them rather easily close to home.

'Villains in the Metropolis' is a crime thriller by definition only as it largely fails to grasp the genre in its entire concept.

'Terastorm' doesn’t feel ready for a release, let alone as Kenya's submission for Best International Feature to the 95th edition of the Oscar.

'Nafsi' starts off as a truly warm story about friendship before it evolves into a dark tale of double cross without feeling like two movies.

Every second of the film feels woven with a care and tenderness that exalts it as a phenomenal piece of visual art.

The constant overbearing and jamming down the entire film with many half-baked themes, gives it a very watered down feel.

A few quirky moments here and there, a few interesting shots, but ultimately 'Look Both Ways' is a very tame and harmless film.

'Nairobby', like a good magical act of tying oneself down and letting the unwrapping be the entertainment, is an interesting but daunting watch.

'Rising Son' struggles to coalesce into a cogent, persuasive wholeness, as if distracted by its many detours and ideas.

While packed with noble intentions, Kenyan film 'Chaguo' falls short of creating a memorable political drama.

'Click Click Bang' can be fun when given to it completely, the only problem is, it seems to be intent on preventing one from doing that.