The Ethiopian film industry made a breakthrough five years ago when the Amharic films ‘Kezkaza Wolafen’ and ‘Gudifecha’ dominated for months at local cinemas that previously exclusively showed Hollywood movies. Inspired by ‘Gudifecha’, one returning director recently released a new film now attracting large audiences.

Directed by: Beza HailuWritten by: Beza Hailu Type: Drama, suspense Duration: 95 minutes

He is driving very fast. His rush to punish his wife - who he is now convinced has been unfaithful- can be easily read in his face. Equally tall and thick set, with dark skin and eyes, and gestures spitting fire, it looks like he may not need to fire a shot to kill her.

He is coming to kill her and leave himself a widower, while their only daughter would have to grow up probably without both parents - he thinks that is for the best.

Somewhere else, a young beauty has been suspecting for a long time that there is something hidden about her identity; to start with, her father’s name was different, then, there was the renaming of the children in the family. But the hiding of the suspicious facts and a comfortable upbringing led her not to query her origins until college.

‘Enkokilish’ (‘The Mystery’), a new Amharic film, now showing in various movie screens in Addis Ababa, introduces a fresh, fast plot early in the running time. While you anxiously wait for the first story to unfold, the rushing husband gets stopped and the audience, like the character himself, meets the second plot - another foreboding story.

The film embeds two very inviting stories and the audience gets to enjoy a juicy tale from first time director and scriptwriter Beza Hailu. Will the “convicted” wife meet the enraged husband? Will the young girl’s heart settle knowing where she came from, or will she learn of a devastating past? It is worth going along to find out.

“When I was watching ‘Gudifecha’ I felt something and I said to myself I had to offer something, my own, for the industry,” Beza said.

She wasn’t very far from the profession, making regular literature contributions for entertainment programs, such as poems to Ethiopian Television’s one time Sunday afternoon hit show 120; an activity that proved to be a good exercise for preparing for the drama she offers in ‘Enkokilish’.

The cast of 25 offers both new and veteran faces from the young industry. The latter group is exemplified by the presence of Solomon Teshe (‘Gaga’ from Siryet) who seems to be earning a part in every hit.

Out of the new faces, the most prominent one is leading actress, Tsedey Eshetu, who performs in the leading role as Mihiret and gives a convincing performance. She is new, beautiful, and she can act. As they say, cinema always loves a new face, especially when it is pretty.

Another plus for the movie is that some scenes were shot in Denver and Colorado in the United States, which helps to keep the film a captivating one.

With this showing, Beza has already proved to be an asset and ‘Enkokilish’ fans are excitedly looking forward to the next project said to be in the advanced stages of preparation.