‘Softie’ Review: A Riveting Run Through Kenya’s Bloody Political Battlefield

“Where are you going?” asks the young son of Boniface Mwangi, as his father heads out to work with a purposeful stride. “I’m going to topple the government,” comes the casual reply. It’s not the answer most parents would give, and while Mwangi says it with a twinkle, he’s not joking: A liberal-minded photojournalist turned activist turned independent candidate in the violent quagmire of Kenyan politics, he’s decided to tell his children straight, in case he never gets to tell them at all. As death threats mount from opposing forces, he isn’t ashamed to admit that he puts politics before family: “When you fight for your country, your kids benefit,” he argues. In principle, it’s noble. In practice, it’s impossible for all concerned — as Sam Soko’s smart, attention-seizing documentary “Softie” shows in even-handed detail.Having premiered in competition at Sundance — where it ...

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