Short film explores social media influence, identity

The fiction-based short film made its debut on the video-sharing platform YouTube yesterday, marking its official release.

PARABLE Films, a division of Kay Media Africa, has released Who Are You?, a gripping thriller and drama that follows the story of a middle-aged woman, Rufaro, who finds herself in an interrogation room, facing questions from one person she would least want to encounter.

The fiction-based short film made its debut on the video-sharing platform YouTube yesterday, marking its official release.

The intense narrative is explored through flashbacks and keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. It explores themes of identity and confrontation.

In the film, Rufaro, a social media influencer with a massive online presence, is under fire for allegedly inspiring a surge in divorce rates among her devoted followers, who diligently heed her counsel.

During the interrogation, she argues that she only uses her power and influence to empower people.

However, her interrogator counters with a harsh critique: “You are ashamed of your real name, you have abandoned your faith, you have forgotten your language and your culture. You are addicted to drugs and you swap men at will. You have created a world of angry followers and you don’t even see it.”

Romeo Chandiposha, the co-writer and director of the film, said that the idea for Who Are You? had been brewing for over a year and it was only when he had the right team around that it eventually came to life.

Parable Films has established a strong reputation for impactful storytelling through its commercial films and documentaries. With Who Are You? the company takes its first bold step into the realm of fiction, showcasing its versatility and commitment to original content.

Early reviews of the film have been positive.

“I loved the ending — very unexpected. It is very thought-provoking. Very well shot and edited,” entrepreneur and communications expert, Sapi Bachi, said.

“I loved it! This short film was not only engaging from the start, but it confronts the undeniable truths about the correlation between our digital footprint and mismatched identity, the real pandemic this current and incoming generations are facing,” singer Kim Makumbe explained.

Keith Kuhudzai, the managing director of Kay Media and producer of the film, expressed his excitement: “Through our division, Parable Films, we are excited as we venture into producing original content and telling our unique African stories. This is the first of many productions in the pipeline. We are on a mission to influence our narrative as Zimbabweans and Africa as a whole.”

Kay Media is a modern multimedia company serving clients and audiences through a specialised media and entertainment business portfolio. The company, established in 2016, utilises the breadth of African ideas, skills and identity to tell authentic stories that engage, entertain and inspire audiences.

Their Scripts and Bars programme has helped creatives unlock value from their creativity by approaching their work as a business and connecting them to valuable partners who support them.

 

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