Pumzi: sci-fi short film from Kenya

Trailer for Pumzi, a short film from Kenyan Writer/Director Wanuri Kahui. More: pumzimovie.com, and Wired ran an item earlier this year when the film screened at Sundance. (via Diane Ademu-John via William Gibson)

• [holtt]

  I really like that mix of natural colors with high tech. The bottom picture there is gorgeous.

• [RevGreg]

  More pls…kthxbi!

• [DeWriter]

  Looks like a cool film. OK, so what? Where can we see it. Their “screenings” page is blank. Why dangle an unobtainable thing before us? That’s just cruel.

• [anticonnor]

  While this short looks beautiful in its own right, this really just makes me nostalgic for some THX… I do believe that I’ll have to give that another watch this week!

  • [failix]

    Exactly what I was gonna say, seems to have a big THX influence. Still looks awesome though.

• [Chentzilla]

  Visible nipples, that’s what Mass Effect costumes lack.

• [pinehead]

  The idea seems at least somewhat similar to Varmints mixed with a dash of Planet of the Apes (I’m thinking of the forbidden zone there). All in all, it looks remarkably well done. I look forward to seeing it in its entirety.

• [Grey Devil]

  I’ve been keeping an eye on this film since i heard about it. I’m very intrigued by it and i hope to be able to see it whenever it’s made available.

• [Ukumbwa]

  I have seen Pumzi at Sundance and it is an amazing film. The challenge of a great film such as this is that it brings issues of movie length/genre, access, race/culture, class, gender and even narrative sensibility into focus as we see what gets easily (if there is such a thing….more easily) promoted/distributed and what does not. Another film at Sundance, “Frozen”, a real bomb of a film already had distribution set up. DO NOT SEE THAT FILM!….but we need to be able to see films such as Pumzi. It is rich in important and socially-functional symbolism. It’s a semiotic feast. And it means something. Please see if there is any way YOU can help in bringing Pumzi to your local theaters or colleges/universities. The director is an amazingly intelligent and engaging woman and would be a great gift to any audience that could get her into their company.

• [Anonymous]

  I think the greater question: Who is the lead acress?

  I am howling like a Tex Avery wolf here. Beautiful!

• [Anonymous]

  Limited budget, perhaps, but look at those locations! Millions saved by being native to the locale.

  Agreed, there is a certain THX feel to this, but I’m eager to see it on its own merits.

• [Anonymous]

  I love the homage to THX1138 in this film.

• [Anonymous]

  Wall-E + Black People = Sign me up!

• [scifijazznik]

  Wow. Looks really cool. And certainly I can’t be the only one here who developed an acute case of the hots for the female lead…

• [jfrancis]

  Looks well done, especially for a short. Reminds me a little of “It’s Such a Beautiful Day” by Asimov.

• [Trent Hawkins]

  Haven’t seen it yet, but the screenshot above looks suspiciously like something out of Gentlemen Broncos.

• [RikF]

  The only problem now is finding a way to see it :( My festival calender is blank for this year at the moment. Some many good shorts, so few eyes get to see them.

• [kimnbri]

  Sounds like Wall-e blended with Logan’s run, Aeon flux and 1964 (maybe a hint of THX?). Looks very nice though…

• [kmoser]

  Ahhhh, the future: where everybody is bald and wears gymnastics outfits.