Tug of War (2021 film)

Tug of War (original title: Vuta N'Kuvute) is a 2021 Tanzanian coming-of-age political drama about love and resistance set in the final years of British colonial Zanzibar. The film was directed by Amil Shivji based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Adam Shafi. [1][2] Tug of War is Tanzania's second entry ever, and its first in 21 years, for the Academy Award Best International Feature category.[3][4] In November 2022, it was awarded the Tanit d'Or, the top prize at Tunisia's Carthage Film Festival.[5]

Tug of War
Promotional release poster
Vuta N'Kuvute
Directed byAmil Shivji
Screenplay byAmil Shivji
Jenna Cato Bass
Based onVuta N'Kuvute by Shafi Adam Shafi
Produced bySteven Markovitz
Amil Shivji
StarringGudrun Columbus Mwanyika
Siti Amina
Ikhlas Gafur Vora
CinematographyZenn van Zyl
Edited byNadia Ben Rachid
Matthew Swanepoel
Music byAmin Bouhafa
Amélie Legrand
Production
company
Big World Cinema
Kijiweni Productions
NiKo Film
Release date
12 September 2021 (TIFF)
Running time
1hr 32m
CountryTanzania
LanguageSwahili

Plot

Taking place in 1950s Zanzibar, Tug of War is set during the movement to win independence for Zanzibar, then a British Protectorate. Denge, a young freedom fighter trained in the Soviet Union, distributes “Free Zanzibar” pamphlets and recruits people to the cause. One of his recruits is Yasmin, a run-away bride from a privileged, upper class Indian-Zanzibari family. She falls in love with Denge and becomes committed to the independence movement. [6]

A still from Tug of War (Vuta N'Kuvute)

Awards

Festivals

References
  1. Vourlias, Christopher (2021-09-12). "Tanzania's Amil Shivji on Love and Resistance in Toronto Film Festival Period Drama 'Tug of War'". Variety. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  2. "Tanzania: Director Amil Shivji puts Tanzanian cinema on the global map with 'Tug of War'". The Africa Report.com. 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  3. Ahmed, Abdulateef (2022-09-23). "Tug of War: Tanzania Makes First Oscar Entry in 21 Years". News Central TV | Latest Breaking News Across Africa, Daily News in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya and Egypt Today. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  4. "Tanzania makes Oscar Awards entry in 21 years with Tug Of War film". The Citizen. 2022-09-21. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  5. "Tanzanian 'Tug of War' wins top prize at Carthage Film Festival". France 24. 2022-11-06. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  6. "TIFF 2021: 'Tug of War' Film Review". blackfilm.com. 2021-09-18. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  7. "Tanzanian Filmmaker Amil Shiviji is Making History with a Story of Love and Resistance". OkayAfrica. 2021-09-27. Retrieved 2022-10-11.
  8. "Tug of War". www.siff.net. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
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