This is a post Covid film by Phil Karanja, which I felt was a good watch and recommendable.
Absolutely loved the storyline.
Guy (Joe) gets twisted in a web of lies in an effort to please his psycho of a girlfriend.
He’s late for work so he lies to the boss that it’s because his brother committed suicide. The boss (Catherine Kamau) gives him a day off to sort out the affairs…but, is supportive and promises to meet him at the funeral home. He goes further to hire a body for ‘show and tell’ but that’s until he blurts out that the body will be creamed in the afternoon whereupon, the supportive boss and colleagues promise to also show up.
Running out of options, he steals a body from the morgue and on the way to crematorium, he’s stopped by a traffic cop, and asked to open the boot…
Misses:
On call with the boss, Joe says he’s in a taxi on the way to the office, but he has his own car which he drives?
The traffic cop on the motorbike didn’t do justice to that scene. Those cops are arrogant alright but very sexy in that uniform…his dialect too missed the execution.
We all know when you sign in at the gate and the guard ushers you in, he’ll also have to open it for you when exiting. You can’t just drive out.
The crime scene…? This is Kenya. There’s no real crime scene especially by the side of the road without a curious audience.
Roads were too clear. They never are. Maybe between December 27 and 30. But never in August.
The IT guy was too fake. The erotic scene with his gangster girlfriend felt forced.
It made no sense how easily people were opening up about their life histories to each other – people they just met.
Costume-wise, the bad guys should always have had dark clothes. Criminals never clad in sky blue shirts and patterned sweaters.
In Kenya we say ATM card, never credit card.
Highs:
Storyline. Perfect.
Catherine Kamau’s dressing. Up-notch.
I always appreciate Kenyan movies that are acted in actual Kenyan language.
Music. Great.
Timing. 1:27 is just right.
In a nutshell, both the script and the actors could have done with some extra oomph. I feel A Grand Little Lie could have been so much funnier and scarier. It never got me to a point where I got the chills and felt the need to empathize… nor did I find myself laughing out loud, you know something in the lines of Death at a Funeral?
Generally though, it's sure is amazing and worth watching, re-watching and passing on.
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