Vincho Nchogu brings her impressive feature directorial debut, One Woman One Bra, to Tribeca. Taking place in the rural village of Sayit, the film follows Star, a 38-year-old unmarried woman with no knowledge of her parentage. With no kinship ties, she is an outsider in her tight-knit community. When the village begins to distribute the title deeds for property, Star must figure out how to claim her home and land, either by proving a family connection or raising enough funds. This endeavor is punctuated by Star’s discovery of a book about the Maasai in a local shop that shows her own childhood photo on the cover, prompting Star’s search for answers and inciting confrontation and friction within her community.

Featuring a powerful performance from Sarah Karei, this film explores themes of belonging and identity as a woman within structured society. One Woman One Bra also criticizes the role of nonprofit organizations within rural communities and how they can encourage altering African narratives to fit colonial or western ideals. Highlighted by the masterful cinematography of Muhammad Atta Ahmed, Star fights for her home and dignity in moments of levity interlaced with harsh challenges.—Frédéric Boyer