Tanzania submits first Oscar entry in more than 20 years

The World
movie screenshot

For the first time in 21 years, Tanzania has submitted a film to the 2023 Oscars.

“Vuta n’Kuvute,” or “Tug of War” in English, was directed by Tanzanian filmmaker Amil Shivji.

The film, based on Adam Shafi’s famous novel of the same name, revisits the colonial and revolutionary past of the island of Zanzibar.

Set in the 1950s, the movie follows the budding romance between a spirited revolutionary and runaway bride during a time of tumultuous change.

To hear more about “Vuta n’Kuvute,” click on the audio player below to hear a story from The World, which originally aired on Jan. 17, 2022.

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