Watu Wote: All of Us

The 2018 Oscars is unusual in that so many of the short films nominated for Best Live Action Short are amazingly good. They are so good that I really wish several could win the award....they are that well made and effective. To give you an idea how good they all are, "Watu Wote: All of Us" was my third favorite...and it would clearly win if it had been nominated any other year!

"Watu Wote" is based on a real story...and it's a story all of us need to know and learn from it. The story is set in Kenya, a country which has had more than its share of radical Islamists. In fact, portions of the country are riddled with these rebel groups to this day.

The story begins with a young Christian woman taking a bus ride across the country to see her ailing mother. Most of the passengers are Muslim and you can tell the lady is uncomfortable about this. Later, you learn that woman's husband and child were murdered by terrorists and you can understand much of her feelings. But what this bus full of mostly Muslims ends up doing does a lot to change her perceptions and, hopefully, those of many in the audience. What does happen? See the film.

The story gets very high marks for its realism and creating a very taut atmosphere. Well made in every way and very worthy of the Oscar.