I Am
Samuel
“We saw ourselves in each other - we belong together."
Short Synopsis/
Filmed vérité style over five years, “I Am Samuel” is an intimate portrait of a queer Kenyan man torn between balancing duty to his family with his dreams for his future, in a country where his love is criminalised.
Play Video
Samuel grew up in the Kenyan countryside, where tradition is valued above all else. He is close to his mother but his father, a local pastor, doesn’t understand why he isn’t married yet. After moving to Kenya’s capital in search of work and a new life, Samuel falls in love with Alex and finds community and belonging. Their love thrives despite the fact that Kenyan laws criminalize anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+. Despite threats of violence and rejection, Samuel and Alex move between their co-existing worlds, hoping to win acceptance in both.
Credits/
Director:
Peter Murimi
Writers: Peter Murimi, Ricardo Acosta
Producers: Toni Kamau, Peter Murimi
Stars: Samuel Asilikwa
“I just want my father to understand me, the way I am – to know my life, and to let me do what I want, because I’m a grown up.”
Genre/
Documentary
Duration/
69 mins
Language/
Swahili/English
Release Date/
14th Jun 2021
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