Joyah’s film launch Nov 30

Malawi film enthusiasts can now smile, as Shemu Joyah’s second drop, The Last Fishing Boat, will be launched in the commercial city, Blantyre, on November 30.

Speaking when the film producers, First Dawn Arts, gave journalists a preview of the film at the old Mutual Auditorium in Blantyre on Friday, Joyah said the wait for the film will soon be over.

“After the launch at Blantyre’s Victoria Hotel, we will take it to Lilongwe and Mzuzu early December. It is a touching story of a clash of two cultures,” said Joyah.

The film, the second after Seasons of a Life, was premiered at the Kenya International Film Festival last month, where Joyah said it was well received.

Piecing up bits and pieces of the film, through the preview could not be more difficult. It is a story of a primary school dropout (Flora Suya) who is forced to become the third wife of a Mangochi fisherman (Hope Chisanu).

Pushed to the fringes with poverty, as her husband is forced into a tighter economic corner, the girl is forced into an extra-marital sexual affair with a tourist (Robert Loughlin) who is on holiday at a lake resort with his wife (Tereza Mirovicova). Noting that her husband is having an affair, the wife also finds a local youngman.

“It was shot in Makawa Village and at some lake resorts. The cultural conflict is brought out through the two families,” said Joyah.

Chisanu, a radio personality who featured as a judge in Joyah’s previous film, said the bilingual roles were taxing.

“At the end of the day, it felt great being part of the set that tells a touching story,” said Chisanu.

Suya, who co-starred with international award winning Tapiwa Gwaza in Seasons of a Life, was equally excited she was part of the movie’s hub.

For the Irish Loughlin, a first in film acting was enthralling: “It was enjoyable. I relate to the film. It gives a vivid picture of how people going into foreign lands must learn to understand the cultures of their host countries,” said Loughlin.