I Am Slave (2010): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2010, I Am Slave is a thriller and drama film directed by Gabriel Range, running about 82 minutes. “Only hope can set you free” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Based on the real-life experiences of Mende Nazer, the story unfolds as twelve-year-old Malia, daughter of champion wrestler Bah, is abducted from her Sudanese village in the Nubar Mountains by pro-government Arab militia and sold into slavery to a woman in Khartoum, who beats her for touching her daughter. After six years she is sent to London, where her name is changed, but her miserable life of servitude continues. Her passport is taken and she is told that her father will die if she goes to the authorities. Fortunately she meets a sympathetic person who seems to offer her the hope of escape and reunion with Bah ,back in Sudan. For all the film's optimism an end title states that there are around 5,000 'slave' workers currently in Britain.

Who’s in it. I Am Slave stars Wunmi Mosaku as Malia, Isaach De Bankolé as Bah, Lubna Azabal as Haleema and Nyokabi Gethaiga as Hana, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.3/10, I Am Slave has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In GB you can rent or buy it from Rakuten TV and Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch I Am Slave page.

If you liked it. Fans of I Am Slave tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, Pulp Fiction, Parasite and Fight Club.