Bello Rashid is the eponymous lady who sees an opportunity to take over the local kiosk in her small Tanzanian town. Thing is, she has HIV, no money and two young children who she is desperate to see educated and cared for. Going into business for herself could be the best way to achieve that, and so she approaches the local co-op for a loan whilst she tries to persuade "Mahera" (Nkwabi Elias Ng'angasmala" who owns the shop to let her rent it from him. A combination of events now seem to conspire against her as she must juggle her own medical needs with the needs of her family and her aspirations in a world where everyone is in a similar boat. "Pili" is no stranger to difficulty and at times her character elicits sympathy - especially with the rather odious "Mahera" but at other times she comes across as unrealistically self-centred. More generically, it does offer us a look at life in a community where HIV is rife and where the use of protection is scorned by ignorance and stigma. It's that latter point that is especially well made here. What people will do to avoid shame, especially in a tightly knit and gossip-prone society. The film is all just too lacklustre, though, and whilst I did sympathise with "Pili" and her plight, I didn't especially like her rather weekly depicted character. The acting is all just a little bit flat and this film relies too heavily on the audience's own sense of pity and/or disgust rather than deliver us a story that we can engage more fully with. It's watchable enough, but disappointing.
4 Reviews
I thought this film was amazing!
UKscreenwriter29 March 2021
I caught this by chance not knowing a thing about it and thought it was extraordinary. It's as if Ken Loach had made a film about the struggles of a single African mother with a debilitating medical condition fighting to survive. Pili faces hardship and the worse kind of exploitation however there are no evil characters here, everyone has a point of view, which makes this a profound film about the human condition. The film-makers show respect to the subject matter, it is never patronising and there are no silly or unbelievable scenes. I hardly ever write reviews and I'm surprised no one else has reviewed this film or that it has had to little coverage.
A MUST watch Film ...
mike-rook27 October 2021
If this EXTRAORDINARY film doesn't break your heart then nothing will. Caught it by chance whilst searching my TV Freeview Channels. If ever you think you're having a bad day then watch Pili face setback after setback until she faints due to exhaustion and utter despair. For sheer brilliance this low budget movie with a cast nobody (including me) would have heard of puts most (if not ALL) Hollywood blockbusters into the shade.
Beautiful and Heart Wrenching
tamrynpalmer13 June 2021
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