Lamb

Ephraim lives in the Ethiopian countryside with his father and looks after his beloved pet sheep, Chuni.

The family has few resources and sees itself forced to move to another part of the country when Ephraim's mother dies. Ephraim's father goes off to find work in Addis Abeba, and the boy is left to live with distant relatives. The latter are sceptical of the boy's arrival: in these harsh times, he represents an extra mouth to feed. He is also not much help out in the fields, and prefers the more feminine task of cooking meals, which he has learned from his mother. Most of all, they have their eyes set on Ephraim's rather well-fed sheep and look forward to a good meat-based dish at the upcoming religious feast. Ephraim will have to use all his resourcefulness to avoid losing his precious pet.

Lamb sports strong performances by lead actors, with a series of intense and nuanced female roles: the older matriarch who sits on her throne inside the family hut and deals out punishment with a whip; the aunt who, despite being sympathetic to Ephraim, has her own sick child to look after; and the older girl who would rather read the paper than consider marrying.

Lamb shows aspects of Ethiopia rarely seen on the silver screen, providing a multilayered "slice of life". Ephraim wanders through beautifully photographed rolling, green, mountainous landscapes and lush forests, which contrast nicely with the darker, more claustrophobic interiors of the family hut and the bustling neighboring marketplace.

The film subtly underlines current economic and sociopolitical issues in Ethiopia, without relying on clichés. A visually pleasing, warm and intelligent coming-of-age drama that displays the richness and complexity of Ethiopian culture

This text is from the Films from the South Festival, where the film had its Scandinavian Premiere.

"Yared Zeleke’s sharp eye for the culture of his homeland is showcased in this tremendous ethnographic debut"
-The Guardian

"It’s a delicately satisfying drama with coming-of-age elements, deeply sympathetic to its characters and very much attuned to the landscape around them"
-Variety