Pumzi, Kenya's first science fiction film, imagines a dystopian future 35 years after water wars have torn the world apart. East African survivors of the ecological devastation remain locked away in contained communities, but a young woman in possession of a germinating seed struggles against the governing council to bring the plant to Earth’s ruined surface.
I first heard about this short film when it was screened at this year's Sundance Film Festival. I was intrigued by the fact that the film was described as being Africa's first science fiction film and was created by an African woman, Wanuri Kahiu.
In a continent where a female director is almost unheard of, I had to find out more. At the age of 29, she's already hailed as one of Africa's most aspirant directors, being part of a new, vibrant crop of talents representing contemporary African culture.
To create the film's futuristic scenes, Kahiu researched classic 1950s films. Comparing the processes of matte painting and rear-screen projection with indigenous African artwork.
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