The Gift (2017): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2017, The Gift is a drama film directed by Jordan Riber, running about 85 minutes.

What it’s about. Mashoto’s life in the city is a hustle. It’s a fast life in the fast city of Dar es Salaam. There’s no time to stop and Mashoto likes it this way. There’s no time to think about the people he left behind in the village. Until silence cuts through the city racket with three words: mother has died. With those words Mashoto’s life changes forever. He returns home, to the place he abandoned, to bury his only ally. Yet his mother has left behind a gift. Her voice, her unseen presence, a gentle whisper urging him to open his eyes and strain his ears- to learn the lessons of nature, of the earth and the roots that draw their nourishment from it. Cast out by his father after losing the little money his mother had left, Mashoto must learn to survive from the land. He must learn to face old enemies and forge new alliances, to fight and to love. Most of all, Mashoto must discover what it is he is fighting for.

Who’s in it. The Gift stars Ibrahim Osward as Mashoto, Monica Sizya as Lightness, Jacob Steven as Kidevu and Martin White as Nunda, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 8.0/10, The Gift sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The Gift page.

If you liked it. Fans of The Gift tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.