The Last Fishing Boat


The Last Fishing Boat is a 2012 Malawian drama film written, directed and produced by Shemu Joyah. The film stars Hope Chisanu, Flora Suya, Robert Loughlin in the lead roles. The plot of the film is based on the cultural differences between traditional African values and modernisation. The film won the Best Soundtrack Award at the 9th Africa Movie Academy Awards. The film was screened at the 2014 New African Films Festival.

Synopsis

Once a successful fisherman at present find himself into extreme difficulties while his cultural aspects and values are being threatened by the rapid expansion of the tourism sector in Malawi. Things change upside down as his son in contrast has become a tourist guide. In addition to this frustration, his third wife breaches the loyalty by engaging in sexual relationship with another man called Richard who is a white tourist. Richard is ready to pay large sums of money to her in order to sleep with her in the bed.

Cast

  • Hope Chisanu as fisherman
  • Robert Kalua as fisherman's son
  • Flora Suya as fisherman's wife
  • Robert Mcloughlin as David, white tourist
  • Marian Kunonga

Production

The project marked Shemu Joyah's second directorial venture after Seasons of a Life. The principal photography of the film began in 2012 and was predominantly shot on the shores of the Lake Malawi in Mangochi.

Awards and nominations

The film received a total of five nominations at the 2013 Africa Movie Academy Awards and won the Best Soundtrack award. The film also won the Best Narrative Award at the 2013 Silicon Valley African Film Festival.
YearAwardCategoryResult
20139th Africa Movie Academy AwardsBest FilmNomitated
20139th Africa Movie Academy AwardsBest Director - Shemu JoyahNomitated
20139th Africa Movie Academy AwardsBest Actress in a leading role - Flora SuyaNomitated
20139th Africa Movie Academy AwardsBest Film in an African LanguageNomitated
20139th Africa Movie Academy AwardsBest SoundtrackWon
2013Silicon Valley African Film FestivalBest NarrativeWon