Flame

Set during the Rhodesian Bush War era, the events begin in the late 1970s and extend into the early 1980s, with the post-war period continuing into the mid-1980s. It follows Florence and Nyasha from youth in the countryside to combatants in a guerrilla camp, and finally through the early years of independence under Mugabe. The timeline anchors personal journeys to a turbulent national transition from colonial conflict to post-independence governance.

The story unfolds across the rural Mashonaland countryside and a ZANLA training camp in Mozambique, with key action spanning border crossings and camp life. The landscape is stark and rugged, underscoring the harsh realities of guerrilla training and exile. The narrative later returns to urban Zimbabwe, notably Harare, as the fighters transition from the warfront to civilian life.

👭 Female Friendship

Florence and Nyasha form a powerful bond that sustains them through peril, training, and trauma. The film centers their solidarity as a source of strength in a male-dominated conflict. It explores how shared purpose can empower young women to redefine their futures, even when the costs are high.

🪖 War and Trauma

The narrative foregrounds the brutal realities of guerrilla warfare, including violence and loss. Florence's pregnancy and the air strike that claims her child illustrate how war scars individuals and shapes decisions. The film traces how trauma reshapes identity, loyalty, and the cost of fighting for a cause.

🏛️ Post-independence Disillusionment

Even after the war and Mugabe's ascent, veterans grapple with neglect and disillusionment in the new order. The story examines the difficulty of Adjusting to civilian life and the gap between revolutionary ideals and post-war realities. It portrays how political change can erode the sense of communal purpose that drove the struggle.