9. Kenya — Rafiki
2018, directed by Wanuri Kahiu
A lesbian teen romance from Kenya, Rafiki is one of those films that is inherently political — meaning it cannot be critically discussed when divorced from its external politics. It is a sad irony that a movie about a socially, legally prohibited relationship was itself banned by Kenya. Rafiki is Swahili for “friend,” which is what closeted gays often called their partners in front of parents (although you may know the name from the baboon in The Lion King).
Director Wanuri Kahiu wanted to portray a “normal love story,” albeit a “difficult” one. Truth be told, if this was a hetero-love story, it would not be very interesting. Aside from the same sex relationship, what we have here is a fairly contrived teen romance following a Romeo and Juliet plot. Their fathers are opponents in a local political election. Although the fairly new, young actors give confident performances, the central relationship is mostly unremarkable, if not for their same sex status. The love interest, though very pretty, gives off pixie dream girl vibes and doesn’t seem like a fully fleshed-out person. The story’s arc is predictable, but the pacing feels off too. Overall, I did appreciate the look at teenage urban life in Nairobi. In particular, the sequence of the first date outside their neighborhood is very cinematic.
Ms. Kahiu, an up-and-coming Kenyan artist, has described her aesthetic as “Afrobubblegum,” which fittingly describes this film’s pastel color palette and Instagram-influenced aesthetic. Some may argue that the conclusion of Rafiki is a statement of Afro-optimism.
While LGBTQ+ cinema has existed for a long time, mainly on the fringes, it has gotten much more mainstream in recent years. It has penetrated the high art, such as with award-winners Moonlight and Call Me by Your Name (both I found excellent), and popular culture, such as the recent Happiest Season (I found it pleasing but also problematic). “Representation matters” was a popular saying in 2020. I find it generally true, but it is not the only thing that matters. Moreover, good representation matters. Rafiki is good representation.
I saw Rafiki on Kanopy.
This is #9 in my World Tour of Cinema project. Read my introductory post here.
