Movie: Bobi Wine: The People's President
Running Times: 1:53
Nominated for: Documentary Feature
How I watched: Disney+
When it had me: Bobi Wine's hopefulness
When it lost me: I got pretty fearful
What systems does it challenge: Autocracy
When you first meet Bobi Wine he is this adorable, upbeat pop musician from Uganda and you just love the guy. Over the course of the film, it falls to him to be the voice for the dream of renewed democracy in Uganda even as the incumbent president of three decades changes the constitution so he can run yet again.
I am forever in awe of these individuals who emerge in dark times and bring a spark of joy, hope and the audacity of dreaming of a better future. They are energetic and brave and ready to change the world in the face of terrible odds and a well organized military. Bobi Wine says, like Alexei Navalny before him that he is not afraid and he will always fight for his beloved home country.
Last year I watched Navalny turn himself in to be imprisoned in Russia. As I write this today the news has broken that he died in that prison. I am devastated.
By the end of the doc, Bobi Wine is still saying the same line but the fear has crept into his eyes; the understanding that he most likely will die for these beliefs and the fervent wish that somehow his death can make things better and not just be in vain.
Navalny's dream is over and I hope that the awareness he spread among his followers will eventually carry forward to a new direction for Russia. As for Bobi Wine? I'll just keep hoping it works out better for his family.
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