MONEY AND THE CROSS

Kenya, 2005, 83 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Martin Munyua.

The title sounds like one of those old movies which were promoted by the Billy Graham Crusade. In fact, it begins like that. Ken is a powerful and charismatic preacher in an apostolic church in a Kenyan town. He preaches against alchohol and its devastating effects and leads a pious vigilante group to smash the illicit stills. Which does not endear him to local gangsters.

But then the film changes tone and probes deeper issues: Ken and his relationship with his wife and children; the hairdresser, Lorna, who is silent about her alcoholic mother, dreams of escaping the town and throws herself at Ken; Ken’s earnest attempts to find money for a slum project. It comes to a head – with money or the cross – when Ken wins a beer promotion lottery because Lorna has entered in his name.

This takes us into different layers of Kenyan society. We see the mercenary aspects with lotteries and ambitions for spending. We see the church for and against Ken accepting the money – and the Bishop visiting, expressing his fears of scandal but not against secretly taking a cut of the winnings.

Ken is a good man. He is a man who fails and who is betrayed. He learns lessons of integrity the hard way. A very interesting African variation on the Thorn Birds story as well as a critique of Kenyan society. Winner of the 2006 SIGNIS East African Talent award.

1.A Kenyan story? Universal application? Social dimensions? Religious dimensions?

2.The title, Ken’s ministry, his life and values, the role of money, the effect of money on each of the central characters?

3.The setting, the town, the church and the congregation? The homes? The affluent society? The illicit stills, the beauty parlour? The world of television? The world of the church? The musical score?

4.The focus on Ken, as pastor, charismatic, the enthusiasm of his preaching, his being against alcohol, arranging the vigilante group to destroy the stills, their going on the rampage? The response of the congregation? The brewers and their antagonism towards him? Making him a target? At home, work on the computer, tension with the wife and children? The bonds with them? His work, not communicating well with his wife? The visit to Lorna, her listening to him, her attraction towards him, offering him the shampoo? His explanation of the project? His other visits? His brother working with him? Hoping for the financial grant? The meetings with the bishop? The group planning to bash him? His visit to Lorna, her approaches, the thugs coming in, the bashing, the police arriving, the police chief and the innuendo? The later rumours? His absence, getting the financial grant? The information about the lottery, the beer promotion, his being the winner? Lorna using his name? His return, people’s hostile reaction, his brother and the tension, the bishop and the visit? Seeing the television, winning the lottery? His going to Lorna, his anger with her? The meeting of the council, the man supporting him, the others wanting him to leave? The bishop and his public denunciation? The private visit, his proposing a deal to keep part of the money? Ken and his wife, his wife fighting Lorna, confronting him? Losing his job, the family going away? His decision to accept the money, going to the studio, skulking? With Lorna, the decision to be with her? Their going to Nairobi, Lorna and her being unwilling to help him in his social projects? Her taking the cash, his stopping the credit card and her not buying the car? His antagonism towards Lorna? Going back to his brother, his hopes for a social project?

5.Ken as a good man, temptation, pressures, succumbing, disillusioned, repenting? Hope for some achievement?

6.The sketch of his wife, her love for her husband, support in the church, the children, the scenes at home? Her clashes with Ken? Her discussions with her friends, their urging her on? Going to the beauty salon, the fight with Lorna? Watching Ken on television accept the money?

7.Lorna, her life, her relationship with her mother, not wanting to talk about her mother, her hostility towards her? Attraction towards Ken? Wanting to get money, get out, get another beauty salon? The attraction, her coming on to Ken? The bashing? Her fight with Ken’s wife? Ken going to her, their going to the city together, her not wanting to help him in any of his works of charity? Her lack of interest in social justice, taking his credit card, getting the cash, the splurge on the jewellery, buying the car, the card stopped and the salesman ordering her out? Her bag being stolen in the street?

8.The police chief, the interrogation, the innuendo? Seeing him later, the discussions? Lorna encountering him in mufti in the streets of Nairobi?

9.Ken’s brother, sincere, helping with the projects?

10.The committee, support, denunciation?

11.The portrait of the bishop, worrying about what people would think, his denouncing Ken, the rumours, the money situation, the meeting of the council – and his private proposal about getting some of the money?

12.The customers in the shop, Lorna and her talk with them?

13.The TV world, the drawing of the lottery and the handing over of the cheque?

14.A portrait of contemporary Kenya? Affluence, hopes? Integrity, dishonesty? Failures, possibilities for redemption?