From first frame to last, Lamb is a lovely piece of visual poetry. Tender and captivating, writer-director Yared Zeleke’s feature debut has already made its mark, honored as the first Ethiopian film ever named a Cannes Film Festival official selection. Lamb centers on Ephraim, a boy adjusting to life with distant relatives following his mother’s death. His one anchor to home is his beloved pet lamb, and Ephraim will fight off any threat to protect it—whether chomping the arm of a brutish market vendor or concocting a series of money-making schemes to save up for their getaway. The film’s quiet surface is tightly stretched over its characters’ tumultuous emotions that emerge in both fierce and gently humorous ways. As Ephraim’s journey brings him around to newfound connection and acceptance within his fractious family, so does this impressive debut bring a bright new talent’s work to our side of the world.

Guest in attendance 10/8 & 10/11: Yared Zeleke (director, writer)

There will be a ticketed reception following the 10/11 screening of the film at LaVier Latin Fusion with director Yared Zeleke in attendance.