Thank You For The Rain

About

Five years ago Kisilu, a Kenyan farmer, started to use his camera to capture the life of his family, his village and the damages of climate change. When a violent storm throws him and a Norwegian filmmaker together we see him transform from a father, to community leader to an activist on the global stage.

Thank You For The Rain addresses a range of issues linked to climate change, including climate justice, urbanization, gender equality, education, access to water, climate refugees, and adaptation.

The Team

Media

Impact

Thank You For The Rain is a collaborative film made by Kisilu Musya, a Kenyan farmer, climate fighter and video diarist, and Julia Dahr, a Norwegian filmmaker and activist. Living in completely different parts of the world, Kisilu and Julia found each through this project, and have been working together for more than five years to complete Thank You For The Rain.


Kisilu: "I had never met a filmmaker before I met Julia and never even seen a full film as I live very remotely with no electricity. It was very interesting to see Julia’s way of working and how she thought my community’s story was so important to the world. When the film team asked if they could stay with me and my family for a month to film, I said yes without any hesitation. But I had one condition: That I could also get a camera to tell my story together with the filmteam.”


Julia: "In my opinion Kisilu having his own camera is what makes this film so special. Kisilu is extremely brave and generous with the audience in his video diaries. He truly gives the audience everything to make sure they feel and understand his fighting spirit and the psychological challenges that he and his community is going through because of climate change. I am proud that we’ve together managed to make a story of hope from the frontline of climate change."



Kisilu: "Now we are looking forward to bring this film to communities around the world and strengthen the global climate justice movement. I have already started using parts of the film in my own farming community, screening it in schools and churches to engage and share knowledge on how we can build climate resilient communities. I am looking forward to speed up this work and do my level best to help my community and the world.”

Follow our journey

Thank You For The Rain

Reviews

This compelling human portrait asks what the future holds when clear evidence of climate change presents itself and the most powerful politicians in the world choose to do nothing. [...] An inspiring portrait of individual who knows that if one loves this planet, one must do all one can to save it. POV Magazine, 26 April 2017.

Good intentions take a toll in this astutely human film: Kisilu grapples with setbacks, disillusionment and a wife and brood of children back home who seriously miss him. The Toronto Star, 23 April 2017.

As a climate change researcher, I found Julia Dahr's film a must-see documentary. Sheffield Hallam University, 14 June 2017.

A look not only at the effects of climate change, but of the dedication it takes to be an activist and family man at the same time [...] An impassioned plea for climate change action. Toronto Film Scene, 25 April 2017.

A charming documentary that touches the heart and gives encouragement to all who care about the planet we call home. Miro Magazine, 7 November 2017.

It not only gives us a face from the frontline of the fight against climate change, it also allows them to speak in their own words. [...] The human face Kisilu provides makes it more hard hitting than many previous documentaries. Vulturehound, 17 November 2017.

That is exactly what makes 'Thank You for the Rain' so strong: the contrast between political choices on the one hand and their consequences on the other. Add the captivating character of Kisilu and you have a very strong film that convinces without being too preachy. Cinemagazine, 2018.

A compelling, engaging, and complex portrait of an environmental activist. African Studies Review, September 2018.

Festivals and Awards

Partners & Funders

Produced by Banyak Films & Differ Media