TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL 2025 REVIEW! In Rise, a short film from Zimbabwe written and directed by Jessica J. Rowlands, a young boy named Rise (Sikhanyiso Ngwenya) lives alone in a garbage dump. After being chased and attacked by bullies, Rise attempts to fight back. The attack is witnessed by Coach Tobias (Tongayi Chirisa), who trains young men in competitive boxing. When Rise is injured, the Coach brings him to a health clinic, but Rise leaves before being treated, choosing instead to follow Coach.
Despite Coach Tobias’ initial resistance—insisting he’s not the boy’s coach and warning him to stay away—Rise persists. When the bullies return, Coach steps in to scare them off. Despite his better judgment, Coach allows Rise to begin training while seeing the practical side, even though Rise is too young and should be in school. Still, he offers him a chance, telling Rise to show up early the next morning. Rise spends the night in the trash heap before returning to join the other students, running and drilling with them as part of the team.
“… a young boy named Rise (Sikhanyiso Ngwenya) lives alone in a garbage dump.”
After Rise’s first day, post-training trip for ice cream, the boy refuses to say where he sleeps, but Coach presses him, and Rise finally admits he’s been living in the dump for six weeks. The conversation quickly shifts to the subject of dreams. Coach explains that without proper rest, he can’t train effectively and shares a quiet truth about dreams: that when Rise finally feels safe, he’ll be able to dream. It’s clear this is about more than just literal dreams.
Rise is the sweet story of a boy with nothing but the determination to survive, who meets a man who is a skilled boxer, but himself feels an emptiness in life. At its core, it’s about facing life’s deepest fears. For Rise, it’s stepping into the ring and trusting his training. For Coach, the responsibility he faces in raising a kid with literally nothing to his name.
Rise is beautifully shot in a small town in Zimbabwe. Director Jessica J. Rowlands simply pulls the emotion out of every scene and draws a heartfelt performance from little Sikhanyiso Ngwenya as Rise. Ngwenya is irresistibly endearing, and I found myself rooting for him—not just in boxing, but in learning the right lessons too.
Rise screened at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival.
"…Ngwenya is irresistibly endearing."
This sounds like an amazing movie with many life lessons especially determination and believing in your dreams, they will come true definitely. Congrats to the whole team. I’m glad you told our Zim story. More blessings to you