Age 11+, coming of age drama
On the island coast of Curaçao, 11-year-old Kenza lives on a plot of land that has been with their family for generations. As Kenza approaches adolescence, she longs for the mother she never knew. Meanwhile, her father and grandfather clash over the future of their family’s land and ancestry. Kenza’s strict dad is a policeman, assimilated to Dutch ways. However, her grandfather, who also cares for her, is in touch with the spirits of their African and Indigenous ancestors of the Afro Caribbean island. Caught in the middle of their opposing worldviews, Kenza seeks her own understanding of the mysteries of the world while facing hard truths. This courageous magical-realism coming of age film stands out as a deeper story of navigating between cultures, spirituality and reason, and life and death, based on a legend from the filmmaker’s own mixed heritage. Winner, Best Live Action Feature, NY International Children’s Film Festival 2021.
Director Biography
Even as a youth, Eché Janga dreamed of being a director, and is the director of the short films “Andere Dagen” (2009), “Mo” (2010), “Ter Observatie” (2011), “Stockholm” (2012) and numerous advertisements and television programs. His debut feature film was Helium (2014). Buladó (2021) is his most recent film.