| The Cut | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Peter Wangugi Gitau |
| Written by | Peter Wangugi Gitau |
| Produced by | Jacksin Odiaga |
| Starring | Ibrahim Rashid Halima Jatan Onesmus Kamau Patrick Macharia Miriam Kinuthia |
| Cinematography | Nickoh Kori John Tumbo |
| Edited by | Peter Wangugi Gitau |
Release date |
|
Running time | 63 minutes |
| Country | Kenya |
| Languages | Swahili English |
The Cut is a 2017 Kenyan film directed by Peter Wangugi Gitau. [1]
The film is about a young boy who is trying to save his younger sister from an early marriage and Female Genital Mutilation in a rural community in Laikipia. Together with their uncle Sam, they flee their house and seek safety in Nairobi. But their new surroundings turn out to be far more dangerous. Jane is compelled to perform manual labor with her aunt, which results in her defilement. In exchange for cash, Uncle Sam covertly helps Jane undergo FGM, which leads to serious health issues and her hospitalization.
John is forced to spend more time on the streets with a bunch of homeless kids who cause him problems when his uncle's family wrongly accuses him of stealing. He is falsely accused of a crime, and as a result, mob justice almost kills him.
A participatory approach was adopted in the development of the film. To form a foundation for the script, children from the AMREF Dagoretti Child Protection and Development Centre penned down their experiences, and those of the society around them, which inspired the script touching on topics such as the abuse of children’s rights, alcoholism, maternal health and child marriage. [2]
The Cut (2017) premiered at the Silicon Valley African Film Festival in San Jose, on 30 September 2018. [3] The film premiered in Kenya on 16 May 2018 at the 'European Film Festival' in Nairobi. [4] 'The Cut' has also screened at the 2017 Cape Town International Film Market and Festival in Cape Town, South Africa on 13 October 2017, at the Toronto Black Film Festival in Toronto, Canada on 16 February 2018.[ citation needed ]
| Awarding Organization | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kalasha Awards | Best Picture | The Cut | Nominated |
| Kalasha Awards | Best Director | Peter Wangugi Gitau | Nominated |
| Kalasha Awards | Best Lead Actor Film | Ibrahim Rashid | Nominated |
| Kalasha Awards | Best Local Language Film | The Cut | Nominated |
| Kalasha Awards | Best Sound | Isaac Masiga | Nominated |
| Kalasha Awards | Best Original Score | Kelvin Ngaira | Nominated |
| Kalasha Awards | Best Screenplay | Peter Wangugi Gitau | Nominated |