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Pili

"How much would you risk to change your life?"

2018-10-12 Drama 1hr 23m

Pili lives in rural Tanzania, working the fields for less than $1 a day to feed her two children and struggling to manage her HIV-positive status in secret. When she is offered the chance to rent a sought-after market-stall, Pili is desperate to have it. But with only two days to get the deposit together, Pili is forced to make increasingly difficult decisions with ever-deepening consequences. How much will she risk to change her life?

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Storyline

Pili lives in rural Tanzania, working the fields for less than $1 a day to feed her two children and struggling to manage her HIV-positive status in secret. When she is offered the chance to rent a sought-after market-stall, Pili is desperate to have it. But with only two days to get the deposit together, Pili is forced to make increasingly difficult decisions with ever-deepening consequences. How much will she risk to change her life?

  • Released
    2018-10-12
  • Revenue
    n/a
  • Budget
    n/a
  • Runtime
    1hr 23m
  • Genre
    Drama
  • Status
    Released
  • Language
    Kiswahili
  • imdb-logo
    0
  • Production
    Queen Mary - University of London

Crew

Leanne Welham
Director
Leanne Welham
Writer
Sophie Harman
Producer
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Cast

Bello Rashid

Bello Rashid
Pili
Nkwabi Elias Ng'angasamala

Nkwabi Elias Ng'angasamala
Mahera
Sesilia Florian Kilimila

Sesilia Florian Kilimila
Cecilia
Sikijua Rashid

Sikijua Rashid
Zuhura
Mwanaidi Omari Sefi

Mwanaidi Omari Sefi
Leila

Videos and Photos

Pili
Pili

Movie Reviews

Reviews for Pili
reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 6

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2024-05-12

Bello Rashid is the eponymous lady who sees an opportunity to take over the local kiosk in her small Tanzanian town. Thing is, she has HIV, ... read more

Bello Rashid is the eponymous lady who sees an opportunity to take over the local kiosk in her small Tanzanian town. Thing is, she has HIV, no money and two young children who she is desperate to see educated and cared for. Going into business for herself could be the best way to achieve that, and so she approaches the local co-op for a loan whilst she tries to persuade "Mahera" (Nkwabi Elias Ng'angasmala" who owns the shop to let her rent it from him. A combination of events now seem to conspire against her as she must juggle her own medical needs with the needs of her family and her aspirations in a world where everyone is in a similar boat. "Pili" is no stranger to difficulty and at times her character elicits sympathy - especially with the rather odious "Mahera" but at other times she comes across as unrealistically self-centred. More generically, it does offer us a look at life in a community where HIV is rife and where the use of protection is scorned by ignorance and stigma. It's that latter point that is especially well made here. What people will do to avoid shame, especially in a tightly knit and gossip-prone society. The film is all just too lacklustre, though, and whilst I did sympathise with "Pili" and her plight, I didn't especially like her rather weekly depicted character. The acting is all just a little bit flat and this film relies too heavily on the audience's own sense of pity and/or disgust rather than deliver us a story that we can engage more fully with. It's watchable enough, but disappointing.

Read Full Review (The thoughts and opinions expressed here are solely those of the reviewer.)
A Review by CinemaSerf

Bello Rashid is the eponymous lady who sees an opportunity to take over the local kiosk in her small Tanzanian town. Thing is, she has HIV, no money and two young children who she is desperate to see educated and cared for. Going into busin...

reviewer avatar

A Review by Geronimo1967 6

Written by Geronimo1967 on 2024-05-12

Bello Rashid is the eponymous lady who sees an opportunity to take over the local kiosk in her small Tanzanian town. Thing is, she has HIV, no money and two young children who she is desperate to see ...

read more