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Shabu: Northern Premiere
12A

Tuesday Wonders launch event

Why watch?

“A hilarious, endearing and indefatigably upbeat documentary that's perfect for the summer months.”

Robb Barham,
Operations & Programme Manager

After crashing his grandmother's car, a teenager spends his summer making money in this upbeat and warm-hearted Dutch documentary.

Documentary • Coming-of-age • Joyful

Precocious Rotterdam teenager, Shabu isn’t doing great. After stealing and crashing his grandmother’s car – and getting a remote scolding from her via Skype – he owes her €1,200 to be paid at the end of the summer when she’s back from Suriname. He takes on a series of odd jobs to save up the cash but finds them boring and would much rather hang out with his best friend Jahnoa or girlfriend Stephy (although he often has a hard time choosing which).

Then, spurred on by the dog days of a sun-dappled urban summer, inspiration hits – and Shabu decides to stage a block party in order to showcase his talents as a rapper and earn back his grandmother’s trust.

In this special launch of our Tuesday Wonders strand, we will be joined by the director, Shamira Raphaëla, and the star of the film, Shabu, for a Q&A.

From Friday 7th July we'll be screening the film as part of its general release. Details here.

Details

Duration

1hr 15mins

Director

Shamira Raphaëla

Distributor

TAPE Collective

Featuring

Shabu

Year

2021

Country of origin

Netherlands • Belgium

Language

Dutch with English subtitles

Strobe lighting

Yes

Content guidance

No content warnings identified

“There’s no doubt about the candour at the heart of the project, and the charm of its central subject make it infinitely watchable!”
Little White Lies

“This film is the purest distillation of joy, rendered in the most vivid colours imaginable, both in how the director captures the landscape visually and how she frames these individuals as the most lovably eccentric cast of characters.”
International Cinephile Society

“It's as if, in expanding the boundaries of what a documentary and and should be, Raphaela feels an affinity with her subject - neither of them, it seems want to settle for what's expected of them.”
Sight & Sound

“Through its boisterous main character, Shamira Raphaëla's 'Shabu' represents a break from the clichéd images of Black experience in the West.”
Oris Aigbokhaevbolo, The Film Verdict

No screenings scheduled