FILM INQUiry

BOXED: A Testament To The Power Of Both Perspective & Its Format

Writer-director Wanjiru M. Njendu decided to tell Henry’s story in a unique, and powerful, way: for the entirety of the film’s short six-minute runtime, we never leave the quarters of Henry’s confinement. This unconventional storytelling method conveys the claustrophobia of Henry’s vehicle to freedom, and we, along with Henry, experience both the dehumanization of this pathway as well as the danger and perilousness of his horrific journey. Full Review

Cinema Soloist

Shorts Showcase

Director, writer, and producer Wanjiru Njendu takes Brown’s story to the screen in this short, but powerful psychological thriller. Within the span of minutes, Boxed takes viewers on an emotional journey of Henry Brown, who travels for 27 hours from Richmond, Virginia to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In every moment, audiences are left gasping for air, wondering if Brown will make to his final destination. Full Review

Shadow & Act

Boxed' Takes Viewers On Henry 'Box' Brown's Harrowing Escape To Freedom

The short film has qualified for FYC submission to the 2020 Academy Awards for Best Short Film - Live Action category. It is certainly worthy of recognition since it has already been featured at 50 festivals so far, with the list getting longer and longer. Viewers will find that the short film successfully recreates the tension, fear and despair Brown (Adetokumboh M'Cormack) must have felt during his unconventional and terrifying journey to freedom in just six minutes. Njendu's cinematographer and co-producer Bongani Mlambo helped establish this fear visually with arresting close-ups on Henry's face as terror and guilt at not being able to help other Black people in need. Full Review

nightmarish

conjurings

Wanjiru Njendu’s BOXED is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, it is a film that gives us an insight into Black History and what one man did for freedom. Shot as a psychological thriller and in doing so, captured the true terror and fear that Henry must have felt. Full Review