Phase9.tv Short Film Showcase
Watu Wote: All of us (2017)
Stars: Barkhad Abdirahman, Faysal Ahmed, Mahad Ahmed
Director: Katja Benrath
Writers: Julia Drache, Brian Munene (consulting writer)
Running Time: 22 mins
Country: Germany, Kenya
Language: Swahili, Somali (English subtitles)
Short Film Review by EDF
Watu Wote, translated as All Of Us, is a true story set in the border region of Kenya and Somalia.
As the region is so dangerous to travel through, an armed escort is required for those travelling by bus. The reason for this is that Al-Shabaab terrorists would force an unescorted bus to stop in order to execute any Christians travelling on the bus. Due to this, there is tension and mistrust between Muslims and Christians.
December 2015, a Christian woman is travelling back to her village to visit her sick mother. The bus trip will take 31 hours and there will be an armed escort for the last passage. She ends up sitting beside a Muslim woman and child but hardly acknowledges her.
We find out along the way why she has a problem with Muslims when a Muslim man tries to engage her in a friendly conversation. The rest of the bus journey will be one she and the rest of the passengers will never forget.
This will be one of those short films that will stay with you long after you have finished watching it. The script from Julia Drache and Brian Dunene has something to say about the world we live in and human nature.
