Subira is a free-spirited young Muslim girl born to be in the water, yet her unique dream of swimming is constrained by the gender stereotypes and traditions of her orthodox Muslim community. Against local customs and much to her mother’s dismay, Subira’s father welcomes his daughter’s passion taking her with him on his fishing trips and letting her swim in the ocean. But when he suddenly dies in a boating accident, so do the fleeting moments Subira had of realizing her dream. She now finds herself firmly in the clutches of her traditional mother, Mwana, whose single-minded aim is to arrange a good marriage for her daughter.
Following Subira as she matures into womanhood, the film tells the story of both her arranged marriage at 18 to the handsome and progressive Taquif and her quest to finally learn how to swim. This searing family drama vividly captures the paradox of modernity versus tradition, freedom of the ocean versus the constraints of marriage, as it begs the question: are the two compatible?
Director Sippy Chadha expanded her award-winning short film of the same name into an engaging feature-length drama about a young woman’s determination and fight to follow her dreams, despite the constraints and challenges in her way.
TOP AWARDS WON (2018)
SUBIRA Feature Film has won 5 top Kalasha Awards.
Best Feature Film – Ravneet Sippy Chadha and Vibeke Muasya
Best Director – Ravneet Sippy Chadha
Best Lighting Technician – Saul Ogada
Best Lead Actress in a Film – Brenda Wairimu
Best Editing – Roselidah Taabu & Terry Kelly
Subjects: African Studies, African Cinema, World Cinema
Institutional Licensing Options
DVD with PPR: $349
Digital Site License: $449
Digital Site License + DVD: $479
Digital Site License + Public Performance Rights: $499
Digital Site License + Public Performance Rights + DVD: $529
ORIGINAL TITLE: Subira
YEAR: 2018
GENRE: Feature Film – Drama
DURATION: 99 min
ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: English, Swahili
COUNTRY: Kenya, Denmark
DIRECTOR: Sippy Chadha
WRITER: Sippy Chadha
CAST: Brenda Wairimu, Tirath Padam, Nice Githinji, Melvin Alusa
PRODUCTION: Kaaya Films