Between The Rains
Title: Between The Rains
Directed by
Andrew H. Brown, Moses Thuranira
Country: Kenya
Duration: 1hr 22 mins
SYNOPSIS
Filmed over the course of four consecutive years of record low annual precipitation in northern Kenya, Between the Rains is a feature collaboration with the Turkana-Ngaremara community that offers a traditional voice to the global conversation about climate change through the lens of cultural extinction. Between the Rains is a coming-of-age story of Kolei, a shepherd boy whose name translates to “living amongst the goats.” Unfolding over the course of a prolonged drought, viewers are pressed deeper into Kolei’s inner conflict as he questions not only his own identity as a warrior –– a path that was chosen for him –– but also the erosion of the culture that has shaped every aspect of his life. For Kolei, becoming a warrior not only shapes masculinity and personal identity, it is the very foundation on which this community and society root their lives. It is a sacred, guiding pillar.
In hopes of stepping out of his older brother Patrick’s shadow, Kolei anxiously awaits his turn to start the Turkana’s traditional warrior process. However, after he fails the key test –– where two of his lower middle teeth are cut out of him with a spoon without medication –– Kolei is dubbed a coward and loses the respect of the older warriors he idolizes. The disappointment leaves Kolei withdrawn from the community and prohibits him from pursuing the life he really wants.
Isolated and alone, Kolei tries to escape the pressures within the village. Adding to his failure, despite the elders’ sacrifices in hopes of appeasing Akuj the Turkana god of nature, the rains still haven’t returned and a series of threats from a rival community on the other side of the river results in the Turkana warriors planning a retaliation attack. Dubbed a failure and sidelined, Kolei turns his attention toward a more immediate threat to his family. With a reduced amount of natural prey available in the wild due to the drought, wild predators begin feasting on the only thing keeping their community alive – the livestock. Kolei hopes that if he’s able to defend his family’s livestock from these wild beasts, he could find redemption and status within the community.
Through Kolei’s journey, viewers see how climate change affects every aspect of the pastoral Turkana’s life: touching on land loss, water access, and human-wildlife conflict.
Between the Rains is an intimate, visual endeavor that seeks to understand the experiences of a childhood caught within a traditional culture that is a casualty of climate change. We focus the story on strong characters as they learn from their choices in real-time. Much of Kolei’s character arc will be driven forward as he faces his fears – both literally and metaphorically – allowing viewers to empathize and connect from a deeper, internal place.
Directors’ Bio
Andrew H. Brown, Moses Thuranira
MOSES THURANIRA: Moses is a producer, journalist, activist & art teacher based in northern Kenya. As a journalist and community organizer, Moses has devoted his life to ensuring that the communities in Kenya’s northern region have a voice.
After studying art & religion in undergrad, Moses attended Kenyatta University, where he earned his Masters of Education. Moses is also working to establish northern Kenya’s first art school – where students will be encouraged to become the creators & problem-solvers for Kenya’s tomorrow. Moses is currently a fellow in the Kenya Film Commission residency program for Documentary and Feature Films.
ANDREW H. BROWN: After his time as an enlisted Forward Observer in the US Army, Andrew has spent the last decade working as a humanitarian & filmmaker in sub-Saharan Africa. Most recently, he was the producer (p.g.a.), editor & the second shooter of KIFARU (Audience Award at Full Frame, Grand Jury Winner at Slamdance). As the producer of KIFARU, Andrew secured exclusive access to Sudan’s story with Ol Pejeta Conservancy, allowing the crew to capture the story of extinction in real-time for the first time in history. As the editor for KIFARU, he was nominated by Jackson Wild for Best Editing. Prior to that, Andrew spent three years building relationships within northern Kenya’s poaching network, unveiling the intricacies of the illegal ivory trade as the producer of WHEN LAMBS BECOME LIONS (Tribeca Film Festival award winner and IDA Nominee, Executive Produced by Oscar nominated Matthew Heineman); a recipient of Sundance’s Documentary Production Grant in 2017. Andrew is a proud descendant of Chief Tarhe of the Huron-Wendat (First Nations of Canada).
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