BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY

Kenya, 2005, 93 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Nick Njache.

This topical and political film opens with a TV news report about corruption and then proceeds to show an ambitious young politician in process of genially orchestrating a briefcase bribe.

However, this is a chamber piece drama, an intercutting of four characters who were at college together and whose paths have taken them in different directions – or have they?

Attila is the smooth, handsome and absolutely corrupt politician. Garth is a former prisoner and now a thug for hire. Jezebel is a mysterious friend. Zwide is an idealistic journalist whom Attila wants to control and who once had a relationship with Jezebel which he broke believing others’ stories about her rather than hers. Jezebel is now with Garth.

The action, almost all in the confines of Attila’s office, is punctuated by stylised flashbacks for each character’s story. The night progresses (although the prominent clock on the wall does not!!) with a great deal of talk. An interesting comparison would be Stephen Hopkins’ talkfest drama about crime, Under Suspicion, with Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman).

There is a violent climax, a dramatic twist and a final TV news broadcast which is replete with cover-up and lies.

Interesting for outsiders to see a Kenyan film-maker tackling such tricky subjects like political corruption.

1.The Kenyan film industry? Topical themes, critique, drama? Sophistication?

2.One-night structure: the flashbacks stylised, inserted at crucial points? The structure of the four characters interacting?

3.The film based on talk, a chamber piece? Theatrical? The interconnections between the four characters, the repercussions? The issue of who was controlling?

4.The prologue, the news, indications of political corruption? Economic corruption? The end, the television program? The distortion of the truth?

5.The focus on Attila, his meeting the businessmen, their dark glasses, sinister tone, friendly talk, the roundabout way of talking of the bribe? His taking it? His press conference, arranging the abduction of Zwide? His henchmen, dismissing them from the office? His talking with Zwide? His manipulation, the proposal of the bribe for Zwide’s loyalty? Hiring Garth, setting him up for the murder, the various deals, the twists, Garth in control, Attila in control? The passport? Jezebel’s mysterious presence? Her being with Garth?

6.Zwide, the abduction, waking in Attila’s office, their discussion, his fear, the issue of the bribe and manipulation, his seeming to accept? Going to his office, writing his articles? Copying the discs? Sending them to the editors – but the editor phoning Attila? His return, encountering Garth, realising that Garth was supposed to kill him? Their arguments? His feelings about Jezebel? His feelings about Attila? Garth and the gun, the threats, Zwide’s alleged altruism, wanting to live and die for a cause?

7.Garth, a thug, arriving with Jezebel? The interactions with Attila, Attila’s deal, Garth’s hesitation, the agreement? Using the blade or not? The arguments with Jezebel? The issue of the passport? Zwide’s arrival, his shock, their discussions, the threats? Jezebel’s phone call? His leaving, his waiting to see what happened?

8.Jezebel, her presence with Attila, her appearance, air of mystery (following the car in disguise)? Her being with Garth? The bond between the two? The deal, the arguments? Her interactions with Attila? With Garth? Her leaving?

9.The different flashbacks, to college, to prison, Jezebel’s relationship with Attila and Garth, to Zwide? The revelation of Attila and his manipulations, his going to jail, his father bailing him out? The sexual relationship with Jezebel? Knowledge of her drug-taking? Controlling Garth? The antagonism with Zwide? Zwide and his love for Jezebel, his believing the worst of her, hurting her? Garth, in jail, the violence? The confrontations? The carjack, meeting Jezebel, seeing her taking the drugs, helping her to get off the drugs? His love for her? Her not saying she loved him? Zwide and his hurting Jezebel? Her reaction to his not believing her? Her going on the drugs? Garth and his help? The final photo – and his reaching for it?

10.The confrontation, Attila’s return, the discussions, the shoot-out? The revelation about Jezebel, her work, undercover? Her explanation of her motivations, revenge? Giving the police the money? Telling them to follow orders? The cover-up?

11.The final news information, the lies about what had happened to the two dead men? Jezebel and her shooting of Garth? An observation of Kenyan politics, corruption? A telling critique?