Part of Cinema Explorations, a wintertime community-curated film series.

This visually striking Nigerian film drawn from West African folklore has a Shakespearean heft. Iyi villagers worship the mermaid deity Mami Wata under the guidance of Mama Efe, her daughter Zinwe, and her protegee Prisca, but a series of tragedies sows doubt that Mami Wata still protects the village. Exploiting this lapse in faith, warlord Jasper arrives, seizing control of the village, plying seductive words, and hawking modern ways to turn the people from Mami Wata. It soon falls to Prisca and Zinwe to find a way to save their people and restore Mami Wata's glory to Iyi. This film has received 15 awards and 27 nominations, winning a Sundance Film Festival award and receiving a nomination for the Film Independent Spirit Award Best International Film.

Runtime: 1 hour 47 minutes

MPA Rating: Not Rated

Cost: Free and open to all, ticket reservations encouraged.

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