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Love Sweet Sound

Keya is a young woman who is in denial of her blindness. She is forced to venture out into the outside world where she bumps into Anthony, a reclusive, struggling man. They embark on a journey to resolve their scars, handicaps and shortcomings.

  • Neha Manoj Shah
    Director
  • Neha Manoj Shah
    Writer
  • Neha Manoj Shah
    Producer
  • Juliana Kabua
    Producer
  • Aseem Sharma
    Key Cast
    "Keya"
  • Alfred Munyua
    Key Cast
    "Anthony"
  • Trishna Morjaria
    Key Cast
    "Aunty"
  • Ahmed Saleem Deen
    Co-director
  • Wael Gzoly
    Director of Photography
  • Ahmed Saleem Deen
    Editor
  • Wael Gzoly
    Editor
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes 48 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 5, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Kenya
  • Country of Filming:
    Kenya
  • Language:
    Swahili
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Neha Manoj Shah

Neha Manoj Shah is a writer and director from Nairobi, Kenya. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from Loughborough University, UK. Her previous works include 3 short films which have won awards and have screened at festivals around the world.

Her short film ‘FACE MASK on Sale’ won awards in Italy, France, United Kingdom, Kenya and South Africa. She won the prestigious Best African Female Director award in France in 2021.

Neha’s style of work revolves around female perspectives and emotion; telling stories from a different perspective of life and experience. Through film she is able to alter perceptions and create a change that is very much needed in this world.

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Director Statement

Disability in Kenya is overlooked. A woman being blind can make her vulnerable on the streets of Nairobi, if she is alone. Those living with disabilities are dependent on their carers which can be taxing to both parties.

Losing your eyesight is a very scary thought; to be in a never ending darkness, a void you can’t come out of. It would make anyone give up. It takes a lot of courage and mental strength to keep pushing, to keep living. Keya, my main character, doesn’t play the victim. She is headstrong, showing willpower and strength. She doesn’t let her blindness disable her or stop her from getting on with her daily routine. This in itself is inspiring and empowering.

We watch Keya transform from being in denial of her blindness and not needing anyone to learning how to ‘hear’ her surroundings with Anthony’s help. I want to immerse the audience in her world, going on a journey with her, to feel what she is feeling and to hear the sounds she hears as she navigates the streets of Nairobi, transitioning from one environment to another.

Sound design is a prominent element in the film. Her apartment is calm and quiet where she has control, whereas the street is loud and chaotic, confusing Keya. The street becomes a dark map where she loses her orientation. It is in the cafe that she learns to focus on sounds, to control what she can hear.

For such a film, we have to be bold and daring. The characters and the story dictated it. As a filmmaker I want to explore and push boundaries. This story took me to a different dimension, a more immersive form of storytelling.