Shabu - Film Review
If you went into Shabu blind, you’d likely be
mistaken into thinking this was a narrative fiction feature, but instead, this
is what I call a narrative documentary.
The story of this film's production is fascinating as, essentially, the
director Shamira Raphaela initially sought to make a documentary based on four
teenagers living in the Dutch town Peperklip. After putting the project on hold
for a year due to personal reasons, she found out about a particular event that
happened with Shabu which sparked the story for the doc which goes to show the
spontaneity of documentary filmmaking.
That event is when Shabu took his gran's car out for a spin and consequently
crashed it, which meant his summer suddenly became dedicated to earning €1200
to get it fixed. Raphaela essentially followed him around with a camera that
summer with the most interference she would bring is a conversation starter.
This documentary feels scripted not in the way it ever feels inauthentic but
rather how thought-out it feels.
Shabu is a very complex person in this realistic depiction of coming-of-age,
where we see him tackle a lot. There is, of course, the need to do low-paid
work like selling popsicles to pay off his debt - something he usually slacks
off doing to focus on his other pursuits. One of these is his passion for music
with an ambition to become a star working on raps (one of which we see
performed and is actually solid) and finding any opportunity to practice his
drumming skills, making the most of his working-class background. He also aims
to keep in touch with his African heritage, incorporating that into his music,
giving this film a real sense of culture. Another conflict is that with his
girlfriend at the time with a relationship on the rocks and debating if he has
time for her. With the sheer amount that the film has going on, and the overall
goal of throwing a party, it feels so to the point and purposeful,
demonstrating how interesting real life can be after all. Just think how many
films are "based on a true story".
Shabu himself proves how he is worthy of his own documentary, which goes
against the original intention. He is such a character full of energy and
passion for what he does, and he keeps that persistent throughout while still
going through significant character growth as he becomes more responsible,
realising the weight of his past mistakes and looking to earn forgiveness. It's
his sheer charm that makes this so entertaining as you find yourself rooting
for him through his trials and tribulations as well as his successes.
If you’ve seen any marketing material for this, most likely, you'll have seen
the shot of him and his girlfriend in a pool lying on inflatables. That shot
alone should give a good impression of the summer vibes. This brings a chill
pace and great cinematography that captures the heat and the brightness of
summer.
Shabu is a documentary that feels natural and yet still highly focused
on a delightful subject with a lot of complexity that is sure to get you in the
summer mood.
