KOCHI: With a handful of movies, mostly from the World Cinema category’ being screened on the first day of the 22nd International Film Festival of Kerala, the city ushered in a festive mood on Friday. Among the films deserving mention is the 2017 British-French film ‘I am Not a Witch’ by Rungano Nyoni.
Narrating the tale of a nine-year-old girl who is accused of being a witch after a particular incident, a modern-day version of witch hunt is portrayed through the film. After being accused, the girl is taken into state custody and transferred to a witches’ camp in the desert.
After an initiation ceremony where she is given the set of rules, she is tied to a ribbon which is attached to a coil that perches in a large tree, much like the other residents of the camp. Threatened with the consequence of being a goat, if not a witch, gives the girl no other choice but to embrace her identity as a witch. Eventually, the girl, who is given the name Shula by the other women in the camp, struggles to get used to her new life.
Showing the contradiction between superstition and modern ideals in a poignant manner, the film effectively uses satire and humour to its best. There is a spirit of resilience to Shula, despite her eventual helplessness. The touch of humour can be seen everywhere, starting from the first few frames where Shula is being accused by a woman and a witness, who was more of a drunken mess, speaks of a ‘dream’ where his arms are chopped off with an axe by the girl.
Contrary to history, modern day witches are given a more ‘respectable’ status, being put up together in camps where witches also become a tourist attraction . Once there, they are free to choose wether to be ‘civil witches’ or become goats.
Humour becomes a major element through which the struggles and frustrations of a small girl forced into being a witch. paraded around as a local celebrity by the government official and her ‘guardian’ Mr Banta, Shula’s life encounters a state of satire.
Margaret Mulubwa blends effortlessly into the role of Shula, portraying her innocence. She embodies a spirit of Henry B J Phiri as Mr Banta is equally impressive as Shula’s opportunistic guardian. Overall, the film appeals to one through it’s subtle blend of satire. The 93-minute-long film was screened in the Directors’ Fortnight section in the Cannes Film Festival