Psychological thriller, ‘Anam’s Wake’, is expected to premiere on July 31 at Prestige Cinema, with additional screenings scheduled from August 1 to 2.
Written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Likarion Wainaina, the film explores themes of grief, memory and the lingering consequences of unresolved loss. Wanjiru Njoroge is attached as producer, while Enos Olik is credited as cinematographer.
Speaking about the film, Mr Wainana said it was inspired by his own story of grief.
“‘Anam’s Wake’ was born from my own journey through grief. After attending numerous burials in early 2024, I became fascinated by the way sorrow often stays hidden, only to return with overwhelming force later,” he said. “This film explores that terrifying truth, that unprocessed grief waits in the shadows, ready to consume us.”
Mr Wainaina is also known for his work on 2018’s ‘Supa Modo”, also added that the film was a way to explore grief.
“Through Anam, a mourner who guides others while shutting down her own pain, I wanted to explore grief as a ritual, a burden and an inheritance. I also aimed to bring Death to life, not as a distant concept, but as an intimate presence within communal mourning. This film is my attempt to capture the complex dance between death and grief and the dangers of postponing emotional truth.”
‘Anam’s Wake’ stars an exceptional Kenyan cast including Marima Wanjiru (Anam), Sam Omondi, Peter Kawa (Mason Ebale), Vanessa Okeyo (Amani Ebale), Ruth Apondi (Aunt Kavata) and Pras Jadi (Kwame Ebale), Gathoni Mutua (Zuri Ebale) and Brenda Ngeso (Nyawira).
According to the film synopsis, “the film follows Anam, a professional mourner trained to summon Death and negotiate the passage of souls. Though skilled in guiding others through loss, Anam remains emotionally numb after her mother’s death sixteen years ago. When tasked with her first solo ritual at the influential Ebale family home, what begins as a solemn wake spirals into a chilling ordeal.”
Echoing Mr Wainaina’s sentiments on grief, Ms Njoroge, who serves as producer, says the story is still firmly rooted in African culture.
“Anam’s Wake is the kind of film I entered this industry to make, deeply rooted in African culture yet universal in its themes. It is a story about grief, family secrets, identity and a young woman navigating the tension between tradition and her own path,” Ms Njoroge says. “What drew me to the project was its trust in silence and the emotional weight carried in what remains unsaid.”
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