Many Loves

Saron discovers that her younger brother Abi committed a crime by raping her boyfriend’s little sister. She persuades herself that Abi has done this due to the long-term illness that kept him isolated from his peers and decides to help him avoid punishment and escape. Saron’s boyfriend Beki unsuccessfully pleas and urges her to turn Abi in but in the end, it all comes down to Saron and her conscience. Will she go through with her plan?
‘Many Loves’ is a powerful story depicting emotionally a very serious subject of rape. It offers a moving argument of struggle we may face between choosing love or justice when it concerns someone very close to us. The film offers an authentic Ethiopian experience while delivering a story that is universal and would resonate with an audience anywhere in the world.

  • Rediat Abayneh
    Director
  • Rediat Abayneh
    Writer
  • Semagngeta Aychiluhem
    Producer
    My Happiness
  • Hanna Merhatsidk
    Key Cast
    "Saron"
  • Dawit Almaz
    Key Cast
    "Beki, Saron's boyfriend"
  • Daniel Mulu
    Key Cast
    "Abi, Saron's brother"
  • Bezawit Ayalew
    Key Cast
    "Mekdes, Beki's sister"
  • Eshetu Asnere
    Key Cast
    "Saron's uncle"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Bzu Fikir / ብዙ ፍቅር
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 45 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 30, 2019
  • Country of Origin:
    Ethiopia
  • Country of Filming:
    Ethiopia
  • Language:
    Amharic
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Rediat Abayneh

Rediat is a freelance animator and filmmaker originally from Ethiopia, currently based in Bristol, UK. Her work is mostly inspired by the culture, story, and art of ancient Abyssinia.
She has a strong interest in working with digital paintings as well as running creative workshops for young people.

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Director Statement

Around 5 years ago I went back home for a holiday. A family friend, who also used to be one of my close friends tried to rape me. The next day everything went back to normal. I never mentioned this to my family since he is like a family to us and his parents were there for us when we needed them so I felt bad to speak out what he has tried to do. I have talked about it with my other girlfriends but it turns out they all have experienced this in one way or another, so somehow it felt normal.

A few years later, growing up as a woman with a different perspective of life, the incident begins to bother me again. It stops being normal. The more it bothers me the more I started to discuss it with other people. It is shocking how many of us (girls) gives excuses to these guys to get away with this. This was how Bzu Fikir was born.

Most of my findings after talking about this matter with other women was they didn’t do anything about it mainly due to embarrassment, self-guilt, and because they didn’t want to hurt other people who would be affected.

Bzu Fikir encourages us, the viewer, to speak out. We experience the film mostly from the criminal’s sister point of view. She is in a position to help her brother escape before he gets arrested. It is not as easy we think to let someone we love face punishment. It is easy for us to forgive our loved ones no matter what they do but that doesn’t mean we should. I wanted to remind others and myself that we need to stand against any types of rape crimes.