Liyana

From the archive

This film was last shown on 16 July 2022

Screening as part of our Filmosophy for Families season is Liyana, a genre-defying documentary that tells the story of five children in the Kingdom of Eswatini who turn past trauma into an original tale about a girl named Liyana who embarks on a perilous quest to save her young twin brothers.

The film weaves her animated journey together with poetic documentary scenes to create an inspiring story of perseverance and hope. Dealing with some harsh topics, such as disease and abuse in a sensitive and accessible way, the film is a celebration of the healing power of storytelling and the imaginations of children.

Please note that there may be scenes in Liyana which could be upsetting for younger audiences with scenes of: Breaking and entering, child abduction, descriptions of verbal and physical abuse, descriptions of death and mild sex references.

The following workshops will potentially be discussing the strong themes throughout the film.

Advised viewing ages 12 - 16+

Join philosophers from Thinking Space in Showroom 5 after the screening for a free, fun and interactive Filmosophy for Families session, where we’ll be exploring some of the film’s philosophical themes. Please note capacity is limited and workshops are offered on a first come, first served basis.

This screening is part of Film Feels Curious, a UK-wide cinema season, supported by the National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network. Explore all films and events at filmfeels.co.uk.

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