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Nicole Gormley and Debra Aroko | United States | 2024
Filmmakers Nicole Gormley and Debra Aroko bring to life a family’s search for their missing patriarch in SEARCHING FOR AMANI. The word “Amani” in Swahili means peace.
Gormley and Aroko are passionate about telling stories that capture the effects of communities facing a global climate crisis as one ponders how to value a relationship to the natural world. SEARCHING FOR AMANI connects stories that are both personal and global in context. The two filmmakers use their craft, the moving picture, to create empathy and impact because in today’s world this art form has significance. Their character-driven, coming-of-age narrative, set in the backdrop of the climate crisis, is a topic communities must address.
SEARCHING FOR AMANI is a personal story of a country in turmoil struggling to protect its natural resources from the effects of intense climate change; and one, where a family searches the truth about the death of their loved one for appropriate closure to take place.
Gormley and Aroko follow young Simon Ali (himself), as he takes up the mantel to find out the details related to the death of his father, Stephen Ali Apetet, a wonderful, highly respected, and loyal employee of Kenya’s renown Laikipia Nature Conservatory. Simon’s father was a skilled and knowledgeable nature guide who was killed in 2019 within the boundaries of the wildlife conservatory. An uncanny occurrence.
Simon’s family was never given the full report of the incident; but, by learning the impact of the local media involved in investigative journalism within their community, Simon and a childhood friend decided to practice such investigative work themselves. The two set out to find the answers to his families questions that had remained unanswered for over four years.
Gormley and Aroko shadow the thirteen year old in his pursuit to find the truth to his father’s demise. SEARCHING FOR AMANI brings to light how peace often comes when truth is revealed. The filmmakers share, “Amani was the last word Simon’s father spoke before he was shot. Amani is Simon’s greatest wish for the region.” Simon’s father would be proud of his son’s in pursuit of truth and peace, while learning life-long lessons to be learned within a world he will engage for years to come.