adminwhat situation they might go through, they can still achieve their dreams.
Chikwama said the decision to hold a street premiere was to make the movie accessible to a wider audience.
“Since the movie is dealing with the relevant issue of HIV and Aids, we decided that a street premiere would be ideal,” he explained.
Written by Juliet Muchineuta and produced and directed by Chikwama, the one hour 20 minutes long film tells the story of a rural girl, Kudzi (played by Lorna Chidhobha), who relocates to Harare in pursuit of greener pastures.
Misfortune, however, befalls her as she falls prey to the wily ways of her elder sister Ever (Fatima Mukunganya), who is a commercial sex worker.
Kudzi is coerced into joining the world’s oldest profession and is infected with a sexually transmitted disease.
She goes for voluntary counselling and testing for HIV and realises that life can go on despite one’s status when she finally realises her dream of becoming a medical doctor.
“Harare” also deals with other social issues by urging youths to abstain from a number of vices.
The film — in Shona with English sub-titles — teaches and warns youths who indulge in drug abuse, crime, gambling, among other immoral things the dangers of such practices and their consequences.
This is Chikwama’s third movie after the short film “Mukadzi” that premiered at the Zimbabwe International Film Festival in 2007 and the feature film “Tonde” released in 2006.
Apart from these films, Chikwama has also been involved in other productions like “Bitter Pill” as a set designer; “Souls of Emmanuel” (as casting and set designer); “Deportation” (as assistant director to Admire Maramba and set designer), as well as sound engineer on ‘The Gentleman”.
“The Gentleman” featured former Big Brother representative Munyaradzi Chidzonga.
“The industry is now moving at a very encouraging pace unlike what it used to be five years ago. Now it is being given the recognition it deserves,” said Chikwama, who holds a diploma in set designing, which he obtained from City Varsity in Cape Town, South Africa, last year.
Currently, Chikwama is working on a new short film “Dry Tears” which he intends to submit to the Zimbabwe International Film Festival for consideration. “Apart from
ZIFF, we are also making plans to have our films taken to local cinemas for screening,” he said.
Online Reporter