I Am Not a Witch. 2017. UK/France/Germany/Zambia. Written and directed by Rungano Nyoni. With Maggie Mulubwa. In English, Bemba, Nyanja. 93 min.
Rungano Nyoni’s stunning feature debut is based on the real experiences of women accused of witchcraft in Zambia. Nine-year-old Shula is sent to a traveling “witch camp” (based on real camps) after being accused of witchcraft in her remote village. Once inside she must decide if she should accept this supernatural branding or try to escape—knowing that, if she resists, she’ll be turned into a goat that could be eaten for dinner. I Am Not a Witch is a beautiful, affecting journey that uses magical realism to tackle issues of misogyny, coming-of-age, superstition, social structures, and, ultimately, every person’s fear of the unknown.