Omar S. Kamara’s debut feature Artificial Giants ambitiously tackles the complexities of brotherhood and African identity but is marked by limitations that hinder its impact. The film follows two Sierra-Leonean-American brothers, Alhaji and Sheku, as they navigate unresolved family tensions and clashing perspectives on cultural inheritance. Kamara’s minimalist approach attempts to reveal deep-rooted conflicts between the siblings, yet the restrained storytelling sometimes undercuts the emotional gravity it aims to convey.
Alhaji, portrayed by Dillon Daniel Mutyaba, is an aspiring actor in Los Angeles, eager to showcase his talents to the world. Sheku, his younger brother (played by Omete Anassi), arrives to visit, marking a long-overdue reunion that quickly veers into uncomfortable territory. What initially seems like a joyful weekend celebration for Sheku’s new internship soon unfolds into a subtly tense exploration of the brothers’ fractured relationship. Kamara’s reliance on muted performances and sparse dialogue to carry this tension is ambitious but, at times, lacks the necessary depth to fully resonate.
A subtly tense exploration of the brothers’ fractured relationship
The film’s sparseness often feels as though it misses chances to dig deeper. Kamara sets out to depict the brothers’ differing attitudes toward their heritage, but these philosophical conversations, though significant, sometimes feel stilted and overly calculated. While the performances are sincere, they struggle to transcend the dialogue, which risks feeling more like scripted exchanges than natural interactions. This keeps the characters and their conflicts at arm’s length from the audience, diluting the intimacy that Kamara is trying to establish.
Kamara’s choice to punctuate the film with dreamlike sequences reflecting on the brothers’ past introduces a welcome visual break from the otherwise stripped-down aesthetic. These moments, steeped in flickering light and slow, meditative camera work, aim to underscore the unspoken truths in the brothers’ family history. However, the contrast between these segments and the film’s plain, almost stagnant main scenes is stark, creating an imbalance that sometimes disrupts rather than enhances the narrative flow.
The film ultimately gains strength from its exploration of how parental expectations shape self-perception, especially when Alhaji’s resentment toward his father’s lack of support comes to the surface. Sheku’s own turmoil, which he keeps concealed, adds a layer of tension, yet the big revelation feels withheld for too long, making the film’s pacing feel stretched. By the time the core conflict unfolds, the build-up seems somewhat anticlimactic, as if Kamara’s restrained approach ultimately stifles the payoff.
The chemistry between the lead actors adds an undercurrent of authenticity
Despite its shortcomings, Artificial Giants does manage to highlight the complicated dynamics of sibling relationships, especially within the context of diasporic identity. The chemistry between the lead actors adds an undercurrent of authenticity, and Kamara’s sensitivity to the nuances of cultural heritage lends the film a degree of credibility. However, the overall production leaves much to be desired in terms of narrative impact, making Artificial Giants a debut that is introspective but, ultimately, falls short of delivering the emotional resonance it strives for.
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