Following the success of 40 Sticks which premiered on Netflix in 2020 and swept nine Kalasha Awards, Fakii Liwai returns with his latest feature, 2 Asunder. Produced under the SensePlay banner, the film delves into the complexities of family, marriage, and traditional beliefs, set against the opulent backdrop of Kenya’s ultra-wealthy elite. Boasting a star-studded cast and with little to no information beforehand about its premise, the title alone was a curious welcome for me.
The film opens with a fourth-wall-breaking monologue from the protagonist, Jafari, tying his wedding suit as he speaks to the audience about the pride and devotion he has for his family and his intention to build his own. It spends its first act revelling in the pomp and celebrations of the couple’s big day, complete with familiar tropes: pre-nuptial jitters, light-hearted chaos, and celebratory smiles as vows are exchanged. One would be tempted to think that this would play out like any other wedding drama, but underneath it all, the film slowly builds a lingering eeriness through muted imagery and reticent dialogue that eventually turns the story on its head.
Whipped around by the changing tides of a quickly escalating and unsynchronised screenplay, 2 Asunder is held together by the strong performances of its leads, Bruce Makau (Kina) and Stephanie Muchiri (Volume). As they navigate revelations that threaten their relationship before it even begins, the story morphs into a thriller with very little thrill. The core concept, laced with familial tensions, inherited secrets, and mysticism, sets up an intriguing first half, but once the suspense wears off, 2 Asunder rarely knows what to do with itself. There’s a lack of emotional resonance that is particularly glaring, given the talented cast. Settling for monotonous scenes, perfunctory dialogue, and supporting characters who appear and reappear without purpose, the film forces the actors to squeeze out as much dramatic juice as possible from a stale narrative.
With no distinct style, mood, or even clear intention, the characters fight for screen time, belting out extended monologues and expositions, often going in circles, only to end with a two-page letter read aloud as the film’s climax. While its inspiration may have come from modern horrors like Get Out, satirical thrillers like Ready or Not, or even action films like Kill Bill, 2 Asunder never once distinguishes itself as anything unique. Far from it, it never seems to know what it is or what it wants to be. The deep familial puppetry isn’t developed, the narcissism of its villains is poorly depicted, the hinted violence and brutality are never shown, and the mysticism barely surfaces. In place of horror, thrill, manipulations, comedy, love or any other meaningful feeling, the film offers two hours of people shouting at each other.
2 Asunder feels reminiscent of early Nigerian cinema, and that’s no disrespect to Nigerian films. Boasting of an original language created specifically for the film, costumes, set designs, and direction, the film feels like where Nigerian films were twenty years ago. However, even then, Nigerian cinema entrusted its audience with emotive, overdramatized acting and amateur visual effects to heighten the stakes of their stories. In contrast, this film offers nothing to elevate its highly convoluted narrative. The immense potential was there: an exploration of family dynamics, the plight of its female characters, class conflicts, dynastic power plays, and the adrenaline of a man—or woman—fighting for their family. All of this could have made for a gripping drama, especially with the twists and turns of a climactic final act. Yet, looking back at the film in its entirety, there is nothing to truly latch onto.
I truly wanted to enjoy 2 Asunder. Its initial premise, though familiar, was ripe for unique exploration but like 40 Sticks before it, it seems obsessed with delivering its final twist at the expense of the journey, stumbling across its runtime to get there.
2 Asunder is currently screening at Prestige Cinema and is also now streaming on Philit TV.
