Stories of Our Lives is an anthology of five short films with LGBT themes from the East African republic of Kenya. It was made by the Nairobi-based art and activist group The Nest Collective, many of whose members prefer to conceal their identities to avoid possible persecution under Kenya’s notoriously draconian anti-gay laws. The film is still banned in it some country. The five dramas are mostly personal and domestic inspired by true incidents. ASK ME NICELY Kate, a rebellious young high school girl, meets first-love Faith, a fellow student. They begin a secret relationship, until the school principal takes action to separate the two by suspending Kate from the school. Back at home, Kate impulsively has a sexual encounter with a boy in her neighborhood. Two weeks later, Kate and Faith have an awkward reunion leading to their separation. RUN After negotiating a business deal, Patrick stumbles upon a local gay bar with his homophobic best friend, Kama. Patrick later returns to the clu...
Jamal is promising college basketball player almost on the verge of signing up a professional contract at nationals level. Trevor, is a reporter on the college's TV channel who frequently interviews Jamal following a game. One night the pair meet via online gay dating app having not seen each other's face. They are surprised to see each there but have a good time and they start secretly meeting every night. Initially Jamal is in denial of his sexuality but eventually embraces it. Even though his mother pressures him for marriage and grandkids, she is eventually supportive of him at the end. We have Trevor's abusive father and supportive mother, who add a bit of drama to the narrative. We also have Trevor's cameraman, who is also his best friend going through depression who eventually kills himself (and this part of the story has absolutely no relevance to the overall narrative structure). Towards the end, the management agent who was trying to sign up Jamal for an international team expects physical favors from Jamal who refuses. The duo finally leave for Chicago for their studies as a couple.
Let's start with story and screenplay. The script is utterly terrible and so basic as if it was being written in the 90s. It stumbles across every cliché in the book, finding no depth in its characters or any potential in its narrative. For a story in which a lot happens, we never really get anywhere. It tries to cramp up topics like racism, mental health, closet sexuality, abuse, love, absent father, future but never really goes anywhere with them. And to top it all, the enormously exaggerated score serves only to make you squirm in your seat. He songs are randomly thrown any moment the characters experience emotion. I am not even sure why is it called 'modern musical'. The acting is bad, like real bad especially Jamal's mother and Trevor's father. Oh and that mental unstable friend was so atrociously bad. At some point I was so embarrassed that I was just laughing at the absolute absurdity and stupidity of how badly things were happening before me. Good Enough is absolutely not good enough at all. Not even close. Stay away. This would have been bad even if this was no a musical. (2/10)
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I hereby solemnly swear to take your advice for real and stay away. Amen.