Nothing has shaken me like Nawi since Sound of Freedom!
Let me take you back almost two months—to January 23. I was in Washington, D.C., on a mild winter day, just after filming at the March for Life.
Later that afternoon, I was sitting on a train to Baltimore to catch my flight back to Chicago. I was stressed about making it on time. When I finally arrived at the airport, I rushed through security and made it to the gate just in time.
Now calm and relaxed, I took my seat on the plane, placed my carry-on above me, and slid my sling bag under the seat. The young gentleman sitting next to me by the window noticed my camera when I unzipped my bag to take out my notebook and iPad.
“Are you a photographer?” he asked.
“Yes,” I replied. “And a filmmaker.”
He smiled. “I’m a filmmaker too.”
That was all I needed to forget about being tired after waking up at 4 a.m. and shooting the entire day.
And it looked like it was the same for him. Kevin—the gentleman sitting next to me—was the very definition of a filmmaker. He had just returned from a screening of his film Nawi. The person sitting next to me was none other than Kevin Schmutzler, the director of Nawi: Dear Future Me.
We talked for almost the entire flight, with short breaks when both of us tried to get some rest. Kevin still had to catch another flight to Germany afterward—which was going to be a very tight (aka impossible) connection.
But let me get to the movie.
Just two days ago, I received an Instagram message from Kevin saying that Nawi would be screened in Highland Park, just north of Chicago. I didn’t think twice—I immediately bought a ticket.
I had already seen the trailer, which gave me a great impression. Kevin had also told me about the film’s subject during our flight: child marriage in Kenya. So I thought I knew what I was getting into.
Did I?
On Thursday afternoon I sat in a medium-sized theater at Wayfarer Theaters. After watching the trailer for Christopher Nolan’s newest film, The Odyssey (he’s my favorite director), the movie began.
From the very beginning, Klaus Kneist’s cinematography was beautiful. Every scene was carefully lit and composed. It settled me down and allowed me to fully focus on the story. At times I even caught myself thinking about how visually polished the film was—it truly looked like it was produced at the level of major Hollywood productions. Perhaps I would have enjoyed a few more wide shots of Kenya’s landscapes, but that’s not always possible or necessary for the story (Director’s choice).
And the story always comes first.
Very quickly I found myself sympathizing with Nawi, the main character—a 13-year-old girl—and her brother Joel, who risks taking their father’s bike to impress his classmates (honestly, I probably would have done the same thing). I don’t want to spoil too much, but the story takes you on a powerful emotional journey. You begin by enjoying the innocent childhood moments between brother and sister, but soon glimpses of their harsh reality appear, revealing the deeper issue the film addresses.
I want to mention something Kevin achieved that is incredibly difficult—and something many directors don’t even attempt.
He shows things without showing them.
What does that mean?
If you’ve seen Sound of Freedom, you know it deals with an extremely difficult subject as well. Yet the filmmakers manage to communicate the gravity of the problem without exposing the audience to disturbing imagery.
Kevin accomplishes the same thing—and he does it brilliantly.
I deeply appreciate this approach. In today’s world, many films are filled with unnecessary explicit content, making them impossible to watch as a family.
Can this film be watched with children?
That’s a difficult question. Ultimately, it’s up to each parent to decide whether their children are mature enough to engage with such a serious topic. However, in my opinion, the film handles the subject in a thoughtful and respectful way, which I greatly appreciated.
The music also left a strong impression on me. It perfectly reflected the emotions of each scene, building tension when necessary and transporting the viewer into the different worlds portrayed in the film. The sound design was equally excellent. From a technical standpoint, the entire film felt top-notch—comparable to many high-budget Hollywood productions.
You will see many new actors on screen, but you won’t feel their inexperience. They carry the emotional weight of each scene convincingly, and at no point did I feel that the acting was lacking. Honestly, I’m still amazed at how the filmmakers achieved such a high level of quality under challenging conditions and with a fraction of a typical Hollywood budget.
For me, this film is a must-watch. It’s the kind of movie that stays with you long after the credits roll. It’s not an easy film—but we need more films like this, stories that move our hearts and inspire us to act.
You can learn more about the project and support their mission at:
https://nawi.film/
As I’m starting to write more film reviews, I’m also introducing a rating system. I’ll include my scores below (please don’t be too harsh on me—I’m always open to feedback!).
P.S.
Kevin caught his flight home, they literly waited for him :).
Review
Sexuality & Nudity: 0/10
Violence: 1/10
Profanity: 1/10 – one scene in the church, where character throws a candle to the ground.
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking: 1/10 – use of cigarets, beer
Frightening & Intense Scenes: 3/10
Cinematography: 9/10
Acting: 8/10
Catholic Doctrine: N/A
Final rank: A
