Let’s begin by answering a question usually asked at the end, where do I watch this? Anga Diamond Plaza, February 16-19, 2026.
Hoping Valentine’s treated you well. S.He Gets Me is a film I strongly encourage you to see, whether single, searching, not searching, dating, married, separated or divorced. It’s one of the rare productions that captures the shifting dynamics of Kenyan romantic relationships with precision.
This Kenyan dramedy stars Joe Kinyua (Njoro wa Uba) and Angela Mwandanda (County 49) directed by Millicent Ogutu, written by Brian Munene. Two strangers connect instantly through humour and shared love for smokies. They fall in love, marry and then discover that their inability to truly listen leads to a slow, methodical unraveling.
It’s a contained story, hyper-focused on two characters, originally written for the stage before Kibanda Pictures adapted it for screen. Judging from my screening experience, it’s a crowd-pleaser, especially for Kenyan audiences. Not only in language but in smaller mundane details, like Arsenal references.
There’s a specific rhythm in how Kenyans communicate, subtle tropes and social dynamics that the film captures perfectly.
It tracks the complexity of being a man or woman at a certain age, instantly recognisable to anyone who has navigated Nairobi’s dating scene.
If you grew up with Just a Band, you will love the music, both in nostalgia and in its apt placement.
The title card and chapter cards are given a creative treatment, your design side will be at peace.
Performances are impressive, keeping the audience engaged despite a script heavy with exposition. Kinyua and Mwandanda carry the film with chemistry that feels lived-in and sincere. Editing is seamless, you don’t feel the cuts. Early on, a character mentions having the “best day of their lives,” and the transition into the relationship accelerating is so flawless you don’t notice the gear shift.
The character motivations and arcs are clear throughout, that's beacuse the motivations is the theme of the movie.
The cinematographer’s blocking is interesting. Simple choices got my attention early in the film, the man stays on the right, the woman on the left. As complications arise, their placement flips or shifts to the centre depending on their emotional state. Whether intentional or instinctive, these visual cues embody their internal chaos and shifting power dynamics.
The fourth wall becomes a character itself, organically pulling the audience into conflict or state of mind. There’s also a clever montage showing passage of time, with one of the best uses of a song I’ve seen in recent Kenyan cinema.
Now, some nitpicks. The film could improve in areas tied to its theatrical origins. It doesn’t feel like a world. I longed for more establishing shots, a street, a building, to let the story breathe. We got one car scene outside, but most of the time orientation was absent.
It often feels like a collection of scenes rather than a expansive world. The “world” exists in dialogue and implication, mentions of schools, weddings, but the film remains too contained, a bit claustrophobic, likely due to budget and crew limitations.
Costumes and makeup could have been more substantial. In a story about clashing personalities, the wardrobe stayed muted. Hot and cold colours could have visually contrasted in their look. I also didn’t buy the passage of time. The story spans six years, yet the characters look nearly identical. A shaved beard, bold style change, or hair shift could have sold the idea of aging.
The writing is tight, but I occasionally wished for silence. In moments of shock or grief, characters move to the next line before the audience can sit with emotions. Raw, quiet reactions would have broken up the constant exposition and allowed the actor to actually perform rather than deliver lines.
Still on the world, we see a drawing on a wall to represent children, but never hear them. Background sound, like the sound of kids playing outside, could have worked better in selling the idea that they had kids.
Though it tries something different, this remains a familiar story. Not generic, but familiar enough to verge on predictability.
S.He Gets Me is authentic, engaging Kenyan story. Anyone who’s been in a relationship will find it relatable. It makes you laugh, makes you reflect, and captures the complexity of relationships with creative touch.
Now go watch the movie, a warning, you will be triggered.
