Samuel, a gay Kenyan man, balances duty to his family with his love for his partner, Alex, in a country where their love is criminalised.
Samuel grew up on a farm in the Kenyan countryside, where tradition is valued above all else. He moves to Nairobi in search of a new life, where he finds belonging in a community of fellow queer men and where he meets and falls in love with Alex. Their love thrives even though Kenyan laws criminalize anyone who identifies as LGBTQ, and together they face threats of violence and rejection.
Samuel’s father, a preacher at the local church, doesn’t understand why his son is not yet married and Samuel must navigate the very real risk that being truthful to who he is may cost him his family’s acceptance.
Register for free and join us for a live ScreenTalk via zoom at 8.30pm on Sat 20 Mar with filmmaker Peter Murimi, LGBT activist & writer Kevin Mwachiro, and Neela Ghoshal, Associate Director, LGBT Rights program, Human Rights Watch.
Kenya/Canada/UK/US 2020 Dir Peter Murimi 86min
This film contains scenes of homophobic violence that viewers may find disturbing.
Co-presented by Human Rights Watch Film Festival (18-26 March) streaming on Barbican Cinema On Demand and BFI Flare (17-28 March) streaming on BFI Player.
Filmmaker Introduction
Filmmaker Introduction: I am Samuel
Director Peter Murimi introduces his film, I am Samuel, for Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2021.
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