Sincerely Daisy was originally released in 2020, but for some countries it was made available much later. It’s the first Kenyan feature film to be released on Netflix and was both directed and produced by Nick Mutuma. With the titular young lady in the lead, played by Ellah Maina, the movie has a runtime of 1hr 27 min and became one of the most-anticipated releases in October 2022.
Mutuma introduced the movie in his words as one to lead by example with its “heavy” focus on Swahili and Kenyan accents and “meant to export our African culture”. While it does bring about the representation it sought to achieve in the global market with many new faces on screen, the reactions reeled in by the movie were severely mixed.
Netflix describes the movie as:
A happy high school graduate’s dreams, romance — and confidence — are shaken when family and relationship drama put her plans for the future in doubt.
-Sincerely Daisy Review Does Not Contain Spoilers-
Simply put, the movie follows a straightforward premise for a coming-of-age storyline wherein the titular protagonist having recently graduated from high school seeks future opportunities in China. While her wish of moving forward to a different, new, and unfamiliar place brings in her mother’s concern and withdrawal, her father is more than willing to encourage her pursuits despite the ongoing financial crisis that puts up a concerning front for a while.
Starting off with the image of a perfectly happy and sound relationship between her parents, Daisy is proud to introduce them. It depicts a much well-known ignorance on her part, like many children who are blissfully unaware of the chaotic misfires their parents hide from them out of concern and love. The scenes shared with her family are probably the most warming and grounded visions of the film. Furthermore, the interactions exchanged therein are the only forgiving feature till the end, mapping out an acceptance and development in the relationship between the mother and the girl. The protagonist’s narration in the initial stages though is very limiting and over the top even for fiction.
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Although it does put her in the midst of things as most teenagers believe themselves to be at the center of their respective stories with the rest revolving around them. Channeling the same energy, the movie moves forth and pushes for the subplot of a love interest that already feels fickle and shallow despite their promises for the future.
Although there is an unconventional dream aspiration with the character aiming to hone her acting abilities overseas, the follow-up of that gives into a cringe-worthy exaggeration. No time is ascribed to expand upon the seeming sincere friendship between some characters, and the depth of the same is only felt during the moments of the final farewell, hence, missing out on another opportunity for delving into good friendship ties, the basis of a coming-of-age film’s soul.
Sincerely Daisy: Final Thoughts
Short-lived light comedy and healthy dynamics between the family can’t alone anchor the film. The acting itself feels forced at times and a lot more theatrical considering it’s meant for the camera and not to be staged as a play. Keeping the idea of it being a representative Kenyan movie aside for a second, the film isn’t really a distinctive addition to the category of its genre.
At the heart of such films, relationship dynamics and the protagonist’s internal conflict and monologue drive the plot. They’re relevantly fuelled by emotion as its prime focus but Sincerely Daisy, though named as if it were a series of journal entries or a letter addressed to the viewers about her personal thoughts, doesn’t sufficiently probe into the teenager’s struggle, failing to draw a sense of relatability at its absolute strength.
Sticking to cliched stereotypes of toxic friendships, the movie doesn’t deal with its characters on a leveled plane. Although most of us would take sniggering joy in poking fun at such things and throwing the “she deserved it” card, coming-of-age’s foundation is grounded in seeing characters as people first but the film single-handedly picks teams and is more interested in failing friendships than building them.
Sincerely Daisy starring Ellah Maina, Brian Abejah, Sam Psenjen, Mbeki Mwalimu and more is streaming on Netflix.
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