A rube intent on conquering the big city is a familiar story, but what distinguishes director David “Tosh” Gitonga’s zestful new film is that the city is Nairobi. Set on success as an actor, cherubic George Mwas (Joseph Wairimu) must navigate an urban underworld of thieves, prostitutes, and killers. Kenya’s entry for foreign-language Oscar, Nairobi Half Life arrives in San Antonio two weeks after Uhuru Kenyatta squeaked to his country’s presidency by a 50.07 percent vote. Dedicated to expanding exposure for independent cinema, the Manhattan Short Feature Film Project is screening it at 100 venues throughout the United States. Audiences will vote on whether Nairobi Half Life receives wider distribution. It is hard to imagine not voting to share this spirited glimpse of street life and theater life in contemporary East Africa. $5-$10, 9pm Friday, URBAN-15, 2500 S Presa, (210) 736-1500, urban15.org. Check out our full online calendar of upcoming events here: calendar.sacurrent.com.
