- Writers
- Debra Aroko, Vickie Curtis, Peter Goetz
- Directors
- Debra Aroko, Nicole Gormley
- Rating
- n/a
- Running Time
- 80 minutes
- Release Date
- n/a
Overall Score
Rating Summary
This will be one of several reviews from this year’s Tribeca film Festival. To follow our coverage, click here.
Laikipia County, in Kenya, is famous for its Nature Conservancy, a one-hundred thousand-acre area meant to protect the local wildlife. Italians Kuki and Makena are the owners after buying the land from the British who sold plenty of land before leaving Kenya. The Conservancy is in an area of conflict between the Conservancy, represented by foreign forces, and the pastoralists who need grass and water for the cattle during long periods of drought.
The conflicts grew to such violence that the long time tour guide of the Nature Conservancy, Stephen Ali, was shot and killed during a tour. Searching for Amani picks up from there, during the aftermath of his death. The film follows Simon Ali, the thirteen-year-old son of Ali, who dreams of being a journalist. He has been passionate about journalism since he was a young child. Simon dreamt of being an investigative journalist. Returning from boarding school, he then embarked on a journey to find answers following his father’s murder. Directors Nicole Gormley & Debra Aroko frame the story through the eyes of a teenager, investigating the case through the lens of Simon’s grief. As he navigates the Conservancy, Simon talks with his father’s friends while searching for leads that may lead him to a conclusion.
Even though Simon is sympathetic enough, Searching for Amani does drag a bit in the middle as the directors get into a repetitive cycle that may disperse the narrative. However, the final fifteen minutes are beautiful as he finally finds the truth in what was an absolute heart-warming conclusion. Amani means peace in Swahili. Simon’s message to the world is not to blame others but to have a mind open to the world around us, and only then, one may find their Amani.
In the end, Searching for Amani is a hopeful film that shows that journalism still has passionate people behind it who will continue to push the profession forward.
still courtesy of Arwin & Autlook Films
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Brazilian film writer. He is also a producer and executive producer for Zariah Filmes. Member of the International Film Society Critics Association (IFSCA), International Documentary Association (IDA), and Gotham and Media Film Institute.