Award winning filmmaker, Nico Abote, delivered a powerful cinematic statement this May with the premiere of ‘Two Stories, One Truth‘ at Magic Screen Cinemas in Harare, featuring the emotionally charged short films Left and Weight.

The double feature confronts difficult social realities including dementia, addiction, grief and emotional trauma, while exploring how unemployment and hopelessness continue to affect families and communities across Zimbabwe.

“Watching the two films on the big screens with many family and friends in attendance ignited in me a bigger desire to push for more human interest stories that speak to the everyday issues in our societies and encourage meaningful dialogue to try address these many ills within the communities.” shared Nico Abote after the Harare premiere.

Left follows Ratidzo, a young woman forced into the role of caregiver after her mother develops dementia following a depression induced stroke. The film examines the emotional burden of caregiving, highlighting the silent sacrifices many young women make while navigating isolation, depression, gender based violence and unresolved resentment.

In contrast, Weight turns its focus to youth substance abuse through the story of Tonde Moyo, a young man from Chitungwiza battling addiction amid economic hardship and unemployment. Rather than sensationalising drug abuse, the film presents it as a deeper social and emotional crisis linked to trauma and limited opportunities.

Left was recently selected and screened at the Bokola Film Festival in Zimbabwe, under the ‘Holding Each Other’ category, that features themes around caring, love, community and healing. The stories should focus on intimate human stories, families, friendships, mutual aid, mental health, survival in crisis.

Together, the two films encourage conversation around mental health, addiction and emotional wellbeing, topics that often remain stigmatised within African communities.

The productions feature performances from Cecilia Kamuputa, Jeffrey Chasi, Robert Chiwawa, Jo-Anne Chido Tenga and Mathias Kurevi, among others.

Through Left and Weight, Abote once again demonstrates the power of film as a tool for reflection, empathy and social dialogue.