At times surreal and magical, and always beautifully shot, Rungano Nyoni’s sharp, satirical fable balances humor and sorrow in its exploration of patriarchy and power.

Cases of children accused of witchcraft in parts of Africa are a real and unfortunate truth. The accused may face torture and abuse, abandoned by a society that fears them. Nine-year-old Shula is exiled to a witch camp where the accused live out the rest of their dismal existences together. When she arrives, she is promptly tethered to the camp by a ribbon that is meant to keep her from flying off, and told that if she cuts herself free she will transform into a goat. As Shula asserts her innocence, she’s taken in by the elders of the community as a reminder of a young life they, too, were denied.

Nyoni’s debut film is the thundering arrival of an exciting and fresh new voice in cinema.