Watu Wote Explained

Watu Wote: All of Us, or simply Watu Wote is a 2017 Kenyan-German, live-action short film directed by Katja Benrath, as her graduation project at Hamburg Media School. The film is based on a December 2015 bus attack by Al-Shabaab in Mandera, Kenya.^[1] The film received critical acclaim, winning a Student Academy Award for Narrative,^{[2] [3]} and received an Academy Award nomination for Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards.^[4] Production faced difficulties when the crew's camera was stolen before filming had begun.^[5]

Plot

Jua, a Christian living in Kenya, boards a chartered bus to visit a relative and is uncomfortable being surrounded by Muslim passengers. The bus is stopped by the violent terrorist group Al-Shabaab, whose members demand that the Muslims identify the Christian passengers.^{[6] [7]}

Cast

• Barkhad Abdirahman as Abdirashid Adan
• Faysal Ahmed as Hassan Yaqub Ali (Al-Shabaab Leader)
• Mahad Ahmed as Passenger
• Abdiwali Farrah as Salah Farah
• Charles Karumi as Issa Osman
• Alex Khayo as GSU officer
• Gerald Langiri as GSU officer
• Justin Mirichii as James Ouma
• Saada Mohammed as Astuhr
• Douglas Muigai as GSU officer
• Adelyne Wairimu as Jua

Reception

Critical reception

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 100% based on 9 reviews, with an average rating of 8.2/10.^[8]

Awards and nominations

• • Nominated: Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film Winner: (Gold Plaque) Student Academy Award for Best International Film School - Narrative
• nominated for Best Live Action short film at the 90th Oscar awards.^[9]

External links

• Wote: All of Us at Hamburg Media School

Notes and References

1. News: This Oscar-nominated film shows how terrorists put Kenya's religious harmony to test. Dahir. Abdi Latif. Quartz. 2018-02-10. en-US.
2. Web site: 2017 Student Academy Awards finalist. Academy. August 10, 2017. August 25, 2016.
3. Web site: 2017 Student Academy Award winners. 2017-10-12. 2017-10-19.
4. News: Kenyan film 'Watu Wote' nominated for an Oscar Award. The Star, Kenya. 2018-02-10. en.
5. Web site: Kasumov. Aziza. 2018-02-22. How Oscar-Nominated Short 'Watu Wote' Was Inspired by True Events. 2021-11-12. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US.
6. Web site: Watu Wote: All of Us. oscar.go.com. 2018-02-10.
7. News: Kenyan short film on Mandera bus attack nominated for Oscar Awards - Nairobi News. 2018-01-24. Nairobi News. 2018-02-10. en-US.
8. Web site: Watu Wote (All of Us) (2017). Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. November 13, 2019.
9. Web site: Kenyan short film on Mandera bus attack nominated for Oscar Awards . 24 January 2018 .