Tickets to Rochester screenings will be sold at the door.
I Am Not A Witch is a bold work of cinema that effortlessly blends dark humor, social commentary, and magical realism. The story follows a young girl named Shula who is accused of practicing witchcraft, imprisoned in a witch camp and made to show off her “powers” for the benefit of the camp’s manager, Tembo.
Set in Zambia, Shula is picked up by a local woman and handed over to an official’s office. The woman claims the girl is a witch, and Shula is adorned with a spindle to “tether” her to the ground and carted off to a camp for witches that bares great similarity to your standard zoo.
Rungano Nyoni’s debut feature film renders Shula’s journey by exploring themes of femininity, superstition and acceptance, while keeping Shula herself a mystery to all the spectators that attempt to control her world.
Director Biography
Rungano Nyoni was born in Lusaka, Zambia in 1982. She won the European Film Award for the short film More (’12) and a BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut. A multi-talented writer, director and producer, Nyoni made her feature-film debut with I Am Not A Witch (’17).
Press
"A fable-like story about a young African girl banished from her village for alleged witchcraft, it blends deadpan humor with light surrealism, vivid visuals and left-field musical choices." - Hollywood Reporter
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