Her only dream is to dive in the ocean, even if the local customs see this as taboo. She spends her free time with her loving father, a fisherman, who promises to teach her how to swim. The film tells the story of Subira, a young Muslim girl living on the small Kenyan island of Lamu. Let’s break it down The Story and Characters This powerful film has been praised for its strong feminist message as well as for its artistry. The movie is based on a 2007 short film of the same name, which was in turn based on true events experienced by its writer/director, Ravneet Sippy Chadha. Unfortunately, it has not received much recognition outside Kenya. This coming-of-age drama won 5 Kalasha Awards in Kenya, and was Kenya’s submission for the 2020 Oscars, but did not secure a nomination. Welcome back to the Netflix Hidden Gems series! Today we’re continuing our journey in African cinema with the Kenyan film Subira (2018).
