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Award-winning documentary Wavumba is a sort-of Old Man and the Sea story that gives some truly inspiring insights into the rich traditions of African storytelling, aging and man’s relationship to the environment. Fantastical traditional tales are interwoven to paint a picture of a world of fantasy where the sea has a spirit, men can talk to fish, and seahorses dance on the waves. Dutch filmmaker Jeroen van Velzen revisits his memories of childhood stories past through  wizened fisherman Masoud  a legend who believes its  his inexorable destiny to capture a giant shark all by himself. Through Masoud, van Velzen recaptures his  Kenya spent  youth  and through  van Velzen,  Mashoud relives his  glory days as a legend of the  open water.

Wavumba has an otherworldly feel to it that beautifully captures a culture so steeped in legend and mysticism. Using long, meandering takes van Velzen follows Masoud as he takes to the water, fishing for octopus and smaller fish but still insistent that he can single-handedly catch a shark if one presents itself. It’s through the depiction of Masoud’s stubborn reluctance to let go of  his past vigour  that the film draws a comparison to the culture of spirit and connection to the natural world that’s  likely to  soon disappear.  A truly original film, Wavumba is  moody and intelligent without being pretentious and likely to cast a spell over you without feeling like it’s over-romanticizing  this truly magical culture.

Is Wavumba Essential Planet in Focus Viewing?

This is exactly the kind of film that should be experienced on the big screen to truly immerse yourself in the world it’s depicting. This is also exactly the kind of film that thrives in a Festival environment, but might be a tough sell to commercial audiences, so be sure to take this chance to drink it in.

Wavumba Screening Times

• Saturday, October 13 at 4:15pm at TIFF Bell Lightbox

More about Wavumba

Wavumba Trailer

Wavumba Production Gallery

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Kristal Cooper

Editor-in-Chief

Kristal Cooper has been a film buff since the age of two when her parents began sneaking her into the drive-in every weekend. Since then, she’s pursued that passion by working for the Toronto International Film Festival and the Canadian Film Centre as well as spending many a happy hour inside Toronto’s wonderful theatres (she still mourns the loss of The Uptown). She currently acts as Toronto Film Scene’s Editor-in-Chief, is a freelance writer specializing in pop culture and feminist issues, and continues to slog away at her day job as a small cog in the giant machinery of the Toronto film community.

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