Zimbabwe drama ‘This is London’ makes a mark
By Showbiz Correspondent
A young Zimbabwean man struggles to bring his wife to the United Kingdom but once there; she becomes exposed to the fast life and begins showing him no respect. This is one of many themes explored in the drama series ‘This is London’ produced by Mike Mambo and written by Masimba Musodza.
Mambo was a guest on SW Radio Africa’s On the Pulse music show last Friday and told presenters Lance Guma and Vickie Nkomo that they want to produce as many series as possible. The first series will have 18 episodes and they are currently producing the first four episodes.
This is London is described as certainly the most ambitious motion picture project by Zimbabweans abroad to date and brings to life the reality of not just the story of Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom, but of the most practical and effective medium of telling it.
Tales of culture shock, ambition, failure, resilience, loss and triumph are explored. Mambo told On the Pulse that they are also dealing with issues of immigration, racism, strain on marriages and families in the series.
In one of the pilot episodes Torai is beginning to see it all fall apart after two years of hard work. His siblings back home continue to call him for money, and it seems as if they are nowhere near completing the house they are supposed to be building.
His wife, Patience, picks the perfect opportunity to leave him for a life of pleasure. His immigration status is in limbo, which threatens whatever chances he has of getting out of the mess he is in now.
Mambo said they are eager to develop the movie industry especially for Zimbabweans abroad and they are currently looking for sponsors to enable them to pay the actors and other extras used in the film.
