NAWI

Based on the winning story of a nationwide writing contest, "NAWI" unravels the life of a determined girl growing up in rural Kenya.

Nawi's aspirations of attending high school are shattered when she learns that her father plans to marry her off to a stranger. Despite her family's necessity for the bride wealth – symbolized by a substantial amount of livestock – Nawi refuses to succumb to this arranged child marriage. Her steadfast ally in this struggle is her brother and closest friend, Joel.

However, Nawi's father remains entrenched in tribal traditions, swayed by the counsel of uncles, stepbrothers, and the elders of the clan. Even her three mothers, constrained by their roles as women, believe that being a wife is Nawi's destined path.

In a bold move, Nawi flees on her wedding night. Pursued by her own family, she embarks on a journey towards Nairobi, clinging to her dream of a promising future. But her sense of responsibility tugs her back when news arrives that her newly-born sister will have to take Nawi’s place in the impending marriage. Nawi returns home to confront her family and husband, an idea in mind to rewrite the fate of countless child brides.

  • Kevin Schmutzler
    Director
    Robin: Watch for Wishes (student film), About German Women (short)
  • Toby Schmutzler
    Director
    Robin: Watch for Wishes (student film), About German Women (short)
  • Milcah Cherotich
    Writer
    story by, first-time screenwriter
  • Kevin Schmutzler
    Writer
  • Toby Schmutzler
    Writer
  • Brizan Were
    Producer
    Learning Lions Kenya
  • Lydia Wrensch
    Producer
    Robin: Watch for Wishes (student film), About German Women (short), Biking Borders (documentary)
  • Caroline Muhl
    Producer
    Robin: Watch for Wishes (student film), About German Women (short), Biking Borders (documentary)
  • Michelle Lemuya
    Key Cast
    "Nawi"
  • Joel Liwan
    Key Cast
    "Joel"
  • Benson Ochungo Obiero
    Key Cast
    "Eree"
    Nafsi, Stinger
  • Michelle Tiren
    Key Cast
    "Rosemary"
    How to dream in Africa, Juakali
  • Benson Ojuwa
    Key Cast
    "Shadrack"
  • Marianne Nungo
    Key Cast
    "Mama Ekai"
    Supa Modo, Chaguo
  • Nyokabi Macharia
    Key Cast
    "Madam Christine"
    Chaguo, Country Queen
  • Patrick Oketch
    Key Cast
    "Emanikor"
    Mother-in-Law
  • Ludwig Bayern
    Executive Producers
    Learning Lions Kenya
  • Katja Eichinger
    Executive Producers
    Asbest
  • Steven Haft
    Executive Producers
    Dead Poets Society
  • Matthias Rosenberger
    Executive Producers
    Jim Button
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 40 minutes 44 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 3, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    800,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Kenya
  • Country of Filming:
    Kenya
  • Language:
    English, Swahili
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Kevin Schmutzler, Toby Schmutzler

Toby & Kevin co-direct films since childhood. All Generation Y, the brothers believe in the transformative power of movies to foster social change. In 2015, during their Masters’ studies, the brothers launched the production company FilmCrew to pursue their vision of creating high-quality entertainment with a social purpose.

Their connection with Africa traces back to university projects eventually culminating in their multi-award-winning student movie, "ROBIN: Watch for Wishes", shot in Cape Town in 2017. The social-impact drama journeyed to festivals globally, including the World Film Festival in Montreal, and caught the attention of Dean Devlin’s Electric Entertainment, securing global distribution rights.

After a period short film, “About German Women” (2019), and their stage direction debut with “Hunger and Greed” (2020) just before the Covid crisis, the brothers embraced the challenges of 2020 by writing, filming, and editing a mid-length feature during the Covid lockdown: “Lockdown Movie” premiered only little later at Biberacher Filmfestspiele. In 2021, co-created “Biking Borders,” a travel documentary that puts spotlight and revenues on education in developing countries, and is streaming on Netflix worldwide.

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Director Statement

According to UNICEF Kenya is home to over four million child brides today.

From the moment we read Milcah’s short story we realized that “NAWI” is not only a timely and necessary story to tell, it is a narrative that transcends borders and cultures to explore universal themes of hope, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of dreams. At its core, it is a story that echoes the aspirations of individuals who dare to challenge conventions and defy expectations.

We were approached by an educational non-profit, the “Learning Lions”, to direct a movie in Turkana more than six years ago. Since then we have been looking for the most intriguing and compelling stories from the region.

Last year, we therefore launched a short story competition together with the Learning Lions. The winning story by the gifted first-time writer Milcah Cherotich depicted a girl facing a forced marriage. This poignant tale serves as the foundation of “NAWI”.

From a Western perspective, child marriage in Africa exists and is problematic. And that’s as far as most peoples’ understanding goes. “NAWI” delves beyond this superficial understanding to explore the why and how behind it and immerses our audience in the rich culture of the proud Turkana tribe.

As directors who have started the project with a similar Western perspective, we try to translate the knowledge that we have been privileged to gain in the process – through the work with Milcah in the writers' room and the insights of Apuu Mourine and Valentine Chellluget who completed our directing team – into a movie that will hopefully resonate with audiences globally. Its universal message is a powerful reminder that no matter the cost, our dreams are what make us human, and they are worth fighting for. We aim to create a cinematic experience that challenges preconceptions, fosters empathy, and – most importantly – inspires action.

We believe that by telling this story, we can contribute to a global dialogue on the importance of education, gender equality, and the pursuit of one's dreams, no matter where and what you are born.