80
Metascore
20 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 90Film ThreatNick Rocco ScaliaFilm ThreatNick Rocco ScaliaNyoni’s handling of tone is astoundingly careful, and because of it, I Am Not a Witch is a truly unique and stirring experience.
- 90The Hollywood ReporterStephen DaltonThe Hollywood ReporterStephen DaltonA fable-like story about a young African girl banished from her village for alleged witchcraft, it blends deadpan humor with light surrealism, vivid visuals and left-field musical choices.
- 88Slant MagazineSlant MagazineIt finds that rare nexus of the comic and the tragic, underlining the absurdity of a terrible situation without demeaning those who have been harmed by it.
- 80Time Out LondonAnna SmithTime Out LondonAnna SmithA startling movie, I Am Not a Witch is many things. It’s a magic realist fable set in present-day Zambia that has plenty to say about gender and superstition. It’s also a satire, a tragedy and a comedy. And, impressively, debut writer-director Rungano Nyoni makes this heady mix work.
- 80CineVueJohn BleasdaleCineVueJohn BleasdaleMulubwa’s performance gives I Am Not a Witch its furious heart, but Nyoni weaves her spells subtly and has produced a film of intensity, satire and grace.
- 80The Observer (UK)Mark KermodeThe Observer (UK)Mark KermodeThis daringly satirical parable of magic and misogyny, superstition and social strictures confirms [Nyoni's] promise as a film-maker of fiercely independent vision, with a bright future ahead.
- 75The Film StageJohn FinkThe Film StageJohn FinkI Am Not a Witch is as fresh as it is provocative despite a few false notes along the way, especially in the film’s third act.
- 70VarietyJessica KiangVarietyJessica KiangSingular as that story might be, what makes I Am Not a Witch unique, however, is Nyoni’s abundant, maybe even overabundant directorial confidence. It’s rare and exhilarating that a new filmmaker arrives on the scene so sure of herself and so willing to take bold, counter-intuitive chances.
- 60The GuardianGwilym MumfordThe GuardianGwilym MumfordIt’s a strange witches brew of deadpan farce and arthouse stillness that some will find exasperating, and it’s not without its missteps; but there’s a confidence and clarity of vision that’s hard not to admire, especially for a first feature.