AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL NEW ZEALAND

JULY 18, 2024 TO JULY 28, 2024

The Pearl Of Africa

GENRE: Adventure | Documentary | Drama
LENGTH: 94 minutes
LOCATIONS: Uganda/Kenya
DIRECTOR: Jonny von Wallström
LANGUAGES: Swahili/English
RATING: M

Synopsis

Cleopatra Kambugu’s humour and warmth belie her circumstance. As a transgender woman living in Uganda, everyday life is tough. Uganda is a country blessed with beauty and biodiversity, yet the diversity of its people is shunned by many. This is typified by a notorious bill threatening life imprisonment for homosexuality. When she is outed on the front page of Kampala’s main tabloid, Cleopatra is forced to flee with her boyfriend Nelson. We follow Cleopatra and Nelson as they leave their homeland and journey into the unknown, and witness the strain that prejudice puts on their relationship. At its heart a universal love story, this is also an incredibly uplifting and personal account of courage and hope.

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