I Am Slave

"Only hope can set you free"

2010 1h 22m EN

😐

6.1

MID

★6.1TMDB · 38

DramaThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Based on the real-life experiences of Mende Nazer, the story unfolds as twelve-year-old Malia, daughter of champion wrestler Bah, is abducted from her Sudanese village in the Nubar Mountains by pro-government Arab militia and sold into slavery to a woman in Khartoum, who beats her for touching her daughter. After six years she is sent to London, where her name is changed, but her miserable life of servitude continues. Her passport is taken and she is told that her father will die if she goes to the authorities. Fortunately she meets a sympathetic person who seems to offer her the hope of escape and reunion with Bah ,back in Sudan. For all the film's optimism an end title states that there are around 5,000 'slave' workers currently in Britain.

“Only hope can set you free”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Cast

Wunmi Mosaku
Malia
Isaach de Bankolé
Bah
Lubna Azabal
Haleema
Nyokabi Gethaiga
Hana
Igal Naor
Said
Nasser Memarzia
Ibrahim
Sirine Saba
Nanny
Farzana Dua Elahe
Arab Shop Assistant

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Gabriel Range
Writers: Jeremy Brock
Languages: English
Countries: Kenya, United Kingdom

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

82 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 16 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: Kenya, United Kingdom.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Gabriel Range, shot by Robbie Ryan. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Molly Nyman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Brand Thumim shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Wunmi Mosaku and Isaach de Bankolé and Lubna Azabal carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Only hope can set you free".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Gabriel Range directs. Robbie Ryan behind the camera. Molly Nyman scores. Brand Thumim cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in Kenya, United Kingdom. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

182 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 16 years ago.
3International production across 2 countries: Kenya, United Kingdom.
4Directed by Gabriel Range, shot by Robbie Ryan. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Molly Nyman. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Brand Thumim shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Wunmi Mosaku and Isaach de Bankolé and Lubna Azabal carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Only hope can set you free".
9IMDB entry: tt1596352 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 38 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.