Wanuri Kahiu speaks after her Netflix Film premieres
Multi-award-winning director Wanuri Kahiu Netflix project Look Both Ways (previously known as Plus/Minus), premiered on Wednesday, August 17, 2022.
Look Both Ways is a romantic comedy film and is aptly named for the audience’s ability to see the protagonist’s life diverge into two paths on the eve of her college graduation. Kahiu’s film, starring Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart, explores the age-old question: what if?
The film follows the story of Natalie (Reinhart), an aspiring artist, on the precipice of life the night before her college graduation.
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From that point, the story branches off on two separate paths as the audience watches what could have been in both scenarios.
In one reality, Natalie finds out she’s pregnant and remains in her hometown in Texas. In this universe, Natalie navigates the tricky waters of raising a child as a single mother while exploring ways of pursuing her dreams, as well.
On the other hand, in her other reality, Natalie set off for Los Angeles in direct pursuit of said dreams, aiming to become a professional artist.
Kahiu who is behind the project has won several African Academy awards for her first movie From a Whisper but it was her movie Rafiki that made her a globally recognized name. Rafiki was selected to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.
Kahiu was also nominated and won awards at the Dublin International Film Festival and Chicago International Film Festival, among others.
Speaking to the Golden Globes about what attracted her to the project, Kahiu said:
“It is an incredible story about women’s resilience. On the one hand, it is a story about a young mother. A young single mother, who is trying to figure out how her life works and how she pursues her passion.
On the other hand, it is a story about a young artist doing everything that she can to get a break in the industry that is so hard to get into as a young woman.
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On both sides, it is about women striving for excellence and that is what drew me to it. Either through motherhood or artistry, it is about women striving for excellence.
That is the most important thing and that is the big takeaway and why I wanted to be part of the project.”
Look Both Ways will be her third feature film, ahead of recently-announced The Thing About Jellyfish, with Stranger Thing’s Millie Bobby Brown attached to star.
Alongside Reinhart, Netflix’s upcoming drama will star Luke Wilson (Old School), David Corenswet (We Own This City), Danny Ramirez (Top Gun: Maverick), Nia Long (Life in A Year), Andrea Savage (Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe), Aisha Dee (The Bold Type) and more.
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