Shimoni (The Pit)
Shimoni (The Pit) is a poignant Kenyan drama directed by Angela Wamai in her feature debut. It centers on Geoffrey (Justin Mirichii), a former English teacher and ex-convict returning to his rural village after seven years in prison. Amidst isolation and societal rejection, he grapples with deep-seated trauma while seeking a path to redemption. Blending thriller elements with raw emotional depth, the film explores guilt's heavy toll through Geoffrey's quiet struggles and community dynamics, highlighted by authentic local dialects and stunning cinematography.
Storyline
In Shimoni (The Pit), Geoffrey emerges from prison haunted by his past, taking a lowly farmhand job where he's constantly demeaned by his boss, Martha (Muthoni Gathecha). Only Father Jacob (Sam Psenjen), the compassionate priest who knows Geoffrey's secret—that he was convicted for killing his abuser offers solace. Geoffrey's nights are tormented by flashbacks to childhood sexual abuse by Weru (Daniel Njoroge), manifesting in bed-wetting and screams that echo his inner turmoil. The story humanizes Geoffrey's fragility: once a respected teacher, he's now a broken man, his shame amplified by the village's tight-knit scrutiny. A pivotal church confrontation with Weru triggers Geoffrey's rage; in a fit, he slaughters a calf, symbolizing his fractured psyche. Father Jacob, torn between mercy and duty, initially banishes him but relents, pushing Geoffrey into religious rituals and English tutoring as makeshift therapy.
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Cast & Crew
Cast
Justin Mirichii
as Geoffrey
Muthoni Gathecha
as Martha
Sam Psenjen
as Father jacob
Vivian Wambui
as Beatrice
Gitura Kamau
as Kimanthi
Daniel Njoroge
as Weru
Eddie Mbugua
as Muchai
Irene Kariuki
as Nyina wa njoki
Idris Fadhil
as Mzee juma
Zainabu Harri
as Beatrice cucu
Alice Wairimu
as Kare
Lucy Njoroge
as Mama cera
Lamar Munene
as Young geoffrey
Myles Njoroge
as Mwau
Zeddie Zanzey
as Young man with jerrycan
Ainea Ojiambo
as Prison officer 1
Wamiti Hillary
as Prison officer 2
Charles Njuguna
as Young weru
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