A Heartfelt Exploration of Grief and Responsibility
“Keba, Interrupted” is a well-put-together short film by director Meja Shoba, telling quite a poignant, relatively simple story of grief, responsibility, and family.
It revolves around Keba, a character well-played by Tshepiso Jeme, whose life is shaken in turmoil following his mother’s death and the unexpected responsibility of caring for his estranged daughter.
The film begins with Keba, a janitor, facing a significant setback at work. After a run-in with an impatient tenant, Keba loses his job despite his best efforts to handle the situation respectfully. This incident sets the tone for Keba’s character. He is a man who is worn out by life’s relentless challenges. The frustration and helplessness he feels are very evident especially as he contemplates his next steps after being unfairly dismissed. This incident makes the impending news about his mother even more daunting.
It is through an urgent call from his sister Maike, played by Tina Redman, about their mother’s deteriorating health forcing him to rush to her home. His mother has died by the time he arrives. This loss marks a real turn in the movie as Keba is now forced to not only grieve but face the reality of the responsibilities he has been avoiding, particularly regarding his estranged daughter.
Tshepiso Jeme‘s portrayal of Keba is just about flawless. His demeanour and body language are all natural and authentic to the character. You can see that Keba is a man who is tired of trying even though he hasn’t tried enough. Jeme’s portrayal is subtle yet powerful and his internal struggles are visible to the audience as he struggles to pay his last respects to his mother, unsure of what emotions to show. This makes the character very relatable and compelling.
Tina Redman is equally brilliant as Maike. The audience isn’t explicitly told who is older, but it’s rather apparent that Maike has her life together, in stark contrast to Keba. Their brief yet intense exchange reveals deeper layers of their characters and their relationship, a testament to both the talents of the actors and Meja Shoba’s writing.
The movie effectively reveals Keba’s dilemma as he wrestles with the thought of accommodating his daughter. He feels that he is not in a position to take care of her and feels guilty for passing on the responsibility to others at the same time. This internal conflict is visible through Keba’s hesitant actions and words, making his character’s journey both heartbreaking and hopeful.
The film’s visual and auditory elements further enhance its storytelling. From the opening scenes, the cinematic quality is evident with well-chosen shots and a soothing sound score that features melodious piano hums. The choice of colour palette offers cool tones, and complements the location and set design, creating an atmosphere that reflects the film’s emotional and artistic depth.
“Keba, Interrupted” ends on a hopeful note with a scene between Keba and his daughter., Keba recognizes his duty to his daughter and perhaps begins to recognize and accept his responsibility. However, the film’s conclusion leaves the audience wanting more, as it feels like the story is just beginning.
The directing and storytelling by Meja Shoba for “Keba, Interrupted” is worthy of being developed into a full-length feature. At just about 15 minutes, the narrative throws the viewer right into Keba’s life and struggle, making us care much about his journey and what choices he is going to take moving forward.
The film’s ability to evoke such strong emotions and empathy in a short span is a testament to its quality and the talent involved in its creation. It is certainly an enjoyable watch with how its heartfelt exploration of grief, responsibilities and family dynamics.
I will score this short film 4 out of 5 stars.
Catch the film at the Durban International Film Festival: https://ccadiff.ukzn.ac.za/diff45/keba-interrupted/
Screening Schedule:
20 July 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM Suncoast
22 July 12:15 PM – 1:30 PM Wushwini
23 July 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM KCAP
24 July 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM CAP Studios
25 July 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Denis Hurley Centre
25 July 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Denis Hurley Centre
26 July 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Luthuli Museum
26 July 5:30 PM – 6:45 PM Gateway
Author: Tony Asankomah
This review emanates from the Talent Press programme, an initiative of Talents Durban in collaboration with the Durban FilmMart Institute and FIPRESCI. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author (Tony Asankomah) and cannot be considered as constituting an official position of the organisers.
