''Neria'' is a

Zimbabwe Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

made in 1991, written by the

novelist A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others aspire to ...

Tsitsi Dangarembga Tsitsi Dangarembga (born 4 February 1959) is a Zimbabwean novelist, playwright and filmmaker. Her debut novel, ''Nervous Conditions'' (1988), which was the first to be published in English by a Black woman from Zimbabwe, was named by the BBC in ...

. It is directed by Godwin Mawuru and the screenplay was written by Louise Riber. It is the highest-grossing film in Zimbabwean history. The film concerns the struggles of a

woman A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardl ...

in a suburb of the capital;

Harare Harare (; formerly Salisbury ) is the capital and most populous city of Zimbabwe. The city proper has an area of 940 km2 (371 mi2) and a population of 2.12 million in the 2012 census and an estimated 3.12 million in its metropolitan ...

, Warren Park, in Zimbabwe when she is widowed after her

husband A husband is a male in a marital relationship, who may also be referred to as a spouse. The rights and obligations of a husband regarding his spouse and others, and his status in the community and in law, vary between societies and cultures, ...

is killed in an accident. Her husband's older brother takes advantage of the death of his younger brother, and uses the inheritance for self-benefit at the expense of Neria and her two children. Its soundtrack, ''Neria'' remains one of the most celebrated Zimbabwean songs. The soundtrack of the film was sung by Oliver Mtukudzi.

Plot

, 1990. Neria and Patrick, a married couple, both work and earn money in the city and live a modern egalitarian lifestyle. But when Patrick is killed in an accident, his family uses traditional Shona custom to deprive Neria of her property and children.The film starts showing Neria and Patrick enjoying a modern life in the city with their two children. The couple goes to visit their family in the rural where they are persuaded by Patrick's mother to stay home rather than in the suburbs away from the rest of the family. Patrick objects stating that he and Neria have built a home in the suburb and their life belongs there. Back in the city, Patrick's car refuses to start as he wants to go to work, he then uses the bicycle instead. On his way from work his bicycle is hit by a truck and he dies on the spot.

Local Acclaim

The film is loved by Zimbabweans as they feel it is one of the few depictions of local living experiences and struggles on the big screen. There is yet to be a production that will rival ''Neria'' in this way.

Cast

*Anthony Chinyanga (Mr. Chigwanzi) *

Dominic Kanaventi Dominic Kanaventi is a well known film and stage actor from Zimbabwe. He has appeared in ''Shamwari'' in 1982, ''Mandela'', ''Cry Freedom'' in 1987 and ''The Midday Sun'' in 1989. He has had major roles in '' Neria'', released in 1993 and ''Salone ...

(Phineas) *Claude Maredza (Mr. Machacha) *Emmanuel Mbrirmi (Patrick) * Jesese Mungoshi (Neria) *Violet Ndlovu (Ambuya) *Sharon Malujlo (Canadian Tourist) * Oliver Mtukudzi (Jethro) *

Kubi Indi Kubi Chaza Indi is a Zimbabwean development activist and businesswoman. Under her maiden name, Kubi Chaza, she was an actress in the United Kingdom, appearing in '' Live and Let Die'' in 1973 as a sales clerk serving James Bond. After returning t ...

(Connie) *Garikai Mudzamiri

Release

''Neria'' was released in 1991. The VHS went on sale in July 1992. ''Neria'' won the Best Soundtrack award from South African station M-Net in 1992. ''Neria'' was released in the United States in 1993, which is why it is sometimes erroneously given the date of 1993. The ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...

'' gave it two and a half stars.

References

External links

* *
Neria
' on YouTube 1991 films Zimbabwean drama films Films shot in Zimbabwe 1990s feminist films Films set in 1990 1990s English-language films Films by Tsitsi Dangarembga {{Zimbabwe-film-stub