“…a wickedly smart satire about modern Africa.” – Kenneth Turan, L.A. Times
“It’s rare and exhilarating that a new filmmaker arrives on the scene so sure of herself and so willing to take bold, counter-intuitive chances.” – Jessica Kiang, Variety
“[Director Rungano Nyoni’s] preferences for long takes, bright colors, and dynamic wide shots that resemble paintings cement the film as high art for its imagery alone.” – Leah Pickett, Chicago Reader
“Nyoni is clearly confident in her vision and the story she wants to tell, and in her capable hands, the result is spellbinding.” – Katie Rife, The A.V. Club
Zambian-born Welsh director Rungano Nyoni is set to make her mark on British cinema with her groundbreaking first feature I Am Not a Witch. Sharply satirical and boldly provocative, the film garnered incredible praise from audiences and critics alike at the Cannes 2017 Directors’ Fortnight.
When eight-year-old Shula turns up alone and unannounced in a rural Zambian village, the locals are suspicious. A minor incident escalates to a full-blown witch trial, where she is found guilty and sentenced to life in a state-run witch camp. There, she is tethered to a long white ribbon and told that if she ever tries to run away, she will be transformed into a goat. As the days pass, Shula begins to settle into her new community, but a threat looms on the horizon. Soon she is forced to make a difficult decision – whether to resign herself to life on the camp, or take a risk for freedom.
At times moving, often funny and occasionally surreal, I Am Not a Witch offers spellbinding storytelling with flashes of anarchic humor. Audacious and unforgettable, it showcases Rungano Nyoni as a fresh and fearless new voice in British film.