This weekend, a movie based on one of the country’s biggest fraud scandals dubbed Cashgate, which shook the foundations of government seat at Capital Hill in Lilongwe, is set for premiere.
The movie titled Highbrow has been produced almost eight years since the scandal happened. And after almost two years of waiting for the production to hit the screens, the film is finally ready.
Highbrow, a film produced by US-based Chawezi ‘Chaz’ Munthali, will be premiered at the Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc) in Lilongwe this Friday with another premiere set for Icon Theatre at Chichiri Shopping Centre in Blantyre the following day.
The local premieres follow the film’s first-ever screening which took place in South Bend, Indiana in the US last month.
The film centres on a young budget director of the Malawi Government whose life is thrown in the spotlight as his position at work creates more enemies for him and tests his relationship with his wife and friends.
He is brought into an intricate entanglement with politicians and businesspersons who want to claim a bigger stake in the affairs of the government. He is pushed into a situation where he either joins them or fights them.
In an interview from his base in the US, Chaz said his narrative in the film only got the inspiration from the Cashgate scandal and, as such, some events may be similar, but not exactly the same as what transpired during the actual scandal.
“I wrote this movie not to demean, vindicate or accuse anybody. I just chose a story that I thought had great elements which could be turned into entertainment,” he said.
The movie, shot and edited by Essim M’bwana, stars names such as Amos Msekandiana, Edwin Chonde, Joyce Mhango-Chavula, Kayakangu Malange, Siphiwe Lino, Patrick Mhango, Bucci Mwale and Cynthia Zulu.
The producer said that after all the screenings, which have been scheduled for UK, South Africa and other cities in the US, the movie will be brought on selling platforms so that many Malawians can access it.
He said: “I can guarantee that I will do my best to make sure that every Malawian has the chance to see the movie. I just need to work out how and when I will do that.”
Local coordinator for the screenings, Fawzia Osman said the premieres will be red-carpet events which will include question and answer sessions with members of the cast.
“Preparations are at an advanced stage. We just have a few things to conclude. We will also have a live feed from Zodiak and other social media platforms,” she said.
