Along the Indian Ocean shore and in the narrow streets and stone houses of 1950s Zanzibar, Yasmin and De defy the colonial authorities to pursue freedom and self-government as well as a forbidden romance. In a segregated city Yasmin is running from an arranged marriage and De struggles to distribute revolutionary pamphlets. Yasmin and De meet by chance and ever afterwards cannot bear to be apart from each other. Together they dream of a better future and see their city through new eyes.
This stylish, colorful, classic romance is shot Wong Kar-Wai In the Mood for Love style. It is a resplendent, playful, and gorgeous technique that utilizes odd camera angles (above and below characters, in water, and through windowsills), fashionable clothing, slow motion sequences, bright colors, contrasts of light and dark, atmospheric music, and frequent close-ups of faces and curious small objects. Portraits of characters are shown on screen with their lips sealed but their voices are heard running in the background.
Anything is possible with the human spirit, said director Amil Shivji in a question-and-answer session after the screening. In support of the local community Shivji utilized a Tanzanian cast. This was good and bad. Good that the actors were authentic and real, and bad that things didnt come together all that well and the acting was a little shaky. Tug of War is the first Tanzanian film to appear at the Toronto international film festival.
World premiere seen at the Toronto international film festival. The film is based on the novel by Adam Shafi.
