In Lesbian Visibility Month, PEITA , Coletivo Cássia and Olhar Distribuição get together to show 'Rafiki' (Friend, in Portuguese), at Cine Passeio, in Curitiba. The session is scheduled for this Saturday, August 10th, at 6:30 pm and shortly after, at 8 pm, there will be a debate with women who are references of the lesbian movement in Paraná.
The feature film directed by Kenyan Wanuri Kahiu is inspired by the book Jambula Tree, a novel by Ugandan Monica Arac de Nyeko. The film tells the story of Kena and Ziki, two teenagers raised to be good wives and mothers, who maintain a strong friendship, regardless of their family's political rivalry during their country's elections, and end up falling in love. After all, there is nothing stronger than shoe love. 
Based on the experiences of the two protagonists, the Kenyan director travels through different spheres where prejudice and violence against gender and sexual orientation – institutionalized in the country – are installed. She goes from the micro (family, circle of friends and neighbors) to the macro (religion, police, State) to demonstrate how the “normality” of a community falls apart when people are possessed by hatred against what they believe to be different and unacceptable.
“I think it's important to tell love stories that take place in Africa, because we don't usually see Africans falling in love in the cinema”, says the director to El País . 
In Kenya, the film was banned by the film classification committee for “legitimating homosexuality”, a practice considered a crime and punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The Kenyan government even claimed that the director sent another script for approval, fake news that Wanuri denied.
To fuel the debate, five responsa women share their experiences and impressions of the feature film:
( • ) Heliana Hemetério
Coordinator of the Candaces Network of Feminist and autonomous Black Lesbians and Bisexuals, Heliana began her militancy in 1980. member of Cevige (Commission for Studies on Gender Violence).
( • ) Giorgia Prates
Photojournalist and photographer, she works for Jornal Plural and Brasil de Fato, in addition to other news media such as Terra sem Males and CWB Resiste. She is also part of the Single Front of Culture of Paraná (FUC) and is the creator of the collective Pedagogia Preta.
( • ) Sapa Cine/ Patricia Cipriano
Actress, performer, producer and vocalist of the post-band Horrorosas Despicíveis. Circulates as an autonomous artist in the city of Curitiba. It is with Companhia de BifeSeco and Casa Selvática that she develops her research on authorial dramaturgy, revue theatre, cabaret, feminism. SAPACINE is an event organized by Amira Massabki, Jo Mistinguett, Patricia Cipriano, Semy Monastier and Simone Magalhães on the last Thursday of the month.
( • ) Cássia/ Ananda Putcha
Ananda Puchta, lawyer, president of the OAB-PR Sexual and Gender Diversity Commission, co-founder of Coletivo Cássia and also works as a volunteer at Grupo Dignidade coordinating the Corporate Engagement area. 
( • )SERVICE
Rafiki | Debate session at Cine Passeio
Date: August 10, Saturday.
Time: Film at 6:30 pm and debate at 8:00 pm.
Location: Cinepasseio - R. Riachuelo, 410, Downtown.
Free event.
More information at the event.
( • )DATASHEET
Directed by: Wanuri Kahiu
Duration: 1h22
Country: South Africa, Kenya, France, Netherlands, Germany, Norway.
Year: 2018
Cast: Samantha Mugatsia, Sheila Munyiva, Dennis Musyoka.
Genre: Drama.
( • )
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