Tug of War (2021 film)

Tug of War
Promotional release poster
Vuta N'Kuvute
Directed byAmil Shivji
Screenplay by
Based onVuta N'Kuvute by Shafi Adam Shafi
Produced by
Starring
  • Gudrun Columbus Mwanyika
  • Siti Amina
  • Ikhlas Gafur Vora
CinematographyZenn van Zyl
Edited by
Music by
  • Amin Bouhafa
  • Amélie Legrand
Production
companies
  • Big World Cinema
  • Kijiweni Productions
  • NiKo Film
Release date
  • 12 September 2021 (2021-09-12) (TIFF)
Running time
1hr 32m
CountryTanzania
LanguageSwahili

Tug of War (original title: Vuta N'Kuvute) is a 2021 Tanzanian coming-of-age political drama about love and resistance set in the final years of British colonial Zanzibar. The film was directed by Amil Shivji based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Adam Shafi. [1][2] Tug of War is Tanzania's second entry ever, and its first in 21 years, for the Academy Award Best International Feature category.[3][4] In November 2022, it was awarded the Tanit d'Or, the top prize at Tunisia's Carthage Film Festival.[5]

Plot

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Taking place in 1950s Zanzibar, Tug of War is set during the movement to win independence for Zanzibar, then a British Protectorate. Denge, a young freedom fighter trained in the Soviet Union, distributes “Free Zanzibar” pamphlets and recruits people to the cause. One of his recruits is Yasmin, a run-away bride from a privileged, upper class Indian-Zanzibari family. She falls in love with Denge and becomes committed to the independence movement. [6]

A still from Tug of War (Vuta N'Kuvute)

Awards

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Festivals

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References

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  1. ^ Vourlias, Christopher (2021-09-12). "Tanzania's Amil Shivji on Love and Resistance in Toronto Film Festival Period Drama 'Tug of War'". Variety. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  2. ^ "Tanzania: Director Amil Shivji puts Tanzanian cinema on the global map with 'Tug of War'". The Africa Report.com. 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  3. ^ Ahmed, Abdulateef (2022-09-23). "Tug of War: Tanzania Makes First Oscar Entry in 21 Years". News Central TV | Latest Breaking News Across Africa, Daily News in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Egypt Today. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  4. ^ "Tanzania makes Oscar Awards entry in 21 years with Tug Of War film". The Citizen. 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  5. ^ "Tanzanian 'Tug of War' wins top prize at Carthage Film Festival". France 24. 2022-11-06. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  6. ^ a b "TIFF 2021: 'Tug of War' Film Review". blackfilm.com. 2021-09-18. Archived from the original on 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  7. ^ a b "Tanzanian Filmmaker Amil Shiviji is Making History with a Story of Love and Resistance". OkayAfrica. 2021-09-27. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  8. ^ "Tug of War". www.siff.net. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
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