In a local legend an ogre steals a child, puts them in a cage, and turns them into something they are not.
Anger, as much as any cell, can be the ogre's cage.
Geoffrey, just released from prison for murder, returns to the town where he grew up. He is bitter about the place, people, and the menial work, but it may be the only way to get back on his feet. If this isn't enough for him to deal with, Geoffrey is paralyzed with fear when a lone figure with distinguishing features enters the room. It is an ogre from his past. If Geoffrey can control his anger and vengefulness, he can free himself from this prison without walls.
Shimoni, which means "the pit," is a place where no one confronts and deals with the ogres in their midst or the pain they cause. Director Angela Wanjiku Wamai, who answered questions after this Toronto International Film Festival screening, hopes we will think about why monsters are the way they are. Many people ignore trouble and evil, and push away those in need of help or use them if they can. There are better ways of dealing with monsters and pain, and Wamai hopes to bring them to mind.
Shimoni needs better plot development, actors, and budget support, but it is so much more real and tangible of a story than the neutered, bland, and unfulfilling glop that is served on screens these days. Shimoni is unpredictable and rewarding. It includes beautiful shots of the jungle forests, sunsets, and rainfall. There are intriguing lines of questionable wisdom like "people need to be shouted at once in a while, so don't be too kind." Shimoni is one of those rare, palpable, interesting, and authentic stories that reveals itself to us only if we are open to them.
