Kenya/Germany • 96 min • Swahili/Kukiyu/English • Narrative • 2012
Directed by: David 'Tosh' Gitonga
Kenya's First Ever Oscar Submission for Best Foreign Language Feature!
"This dynamic crime drama, director David Tosh Gitonga's first film and Kenya's official entry for the foreign-language film Oscar, comes across as fundamentally honest and vividly realistic." - The Hollywood Reporter
"An affecting, funny narrative, bringing us into layered, tumultuous lives of people..." - Variety
Nairobi Half Life, the feature directorial debut of Kenyan filmmaker Daniel 'Tosh" Gitonga, follows Mwas (the incredible Joseph Wairimu), a young, aspiring actor from upcountry Kenya who dreams of becoming a success in the city of opportunity: Nairobi.
Traveling to the crime-ridden Kenyan capital to follow his dreams, Mwas quickly understands why Nairobi is nicknamed Nairobbery. Robbed of his money and belongings, and left alone in a city where he doesn't know a soul, luck or the lack of it, brings him face to face with a young, small time gang leader who gives Mwas a chance to earn a living.
Drawn into a new world of theft and violence, Mwas still tries to pursue his dream of becoming an actor. But caught between two social classes, and between a life of crime and a life on the stage, Mwas struggles to keep his identity -- and his life.
Nairobi Half Life has been selected for The Feature Film Project and will be screened in over 100 cinemas across the US on March 21. Audiences will be asked, "Should THIS FILM return for A ONE WEEK RELEASE?" If the majority of the audience vote YES then the film will return to this theater for a full week!
