From the title, you’d be forgiven for thinking of black people in chains on plantations run by fat white men hundreds of years ago. But contrary to our general perceptions of slavery, Gabriel Range’s film I Am Slave is a stark reminder of the human consequences of modern domestic slavery.  Cleverly framed excellently cast, and hauntingly incisive, this is a film I haven’t been able to stop think about for 5 weeks and counting.  Courtesy of BAFTA, I sat in on a screening and Q+A at Princess Anne Theatre with director Gabriel Range (Death of a President), lead actress Wunmi Mosaku and producer Andrea Calderwood.

After a raid on her village in the Nuba mountains, 12-year-old Malia finds herself in the service of a wealthy Arab family in Khartoum After one too many innocent transgressions of youth, she is shipped her off to London where she finds herself trapped behind the net curtains of a suburban prison.

Range’s consistent subtle frames and Mosaku’s quiet presence which fixates her audience, creates an onslaught of harsh, necessary contrasts. From Malia’s dank cupboard of a room, we move with her as she is drawn to windows whenever she’s offered the luxury of natural light. Shot entirely with handheld cameras that seems to breathe with Malia. Range has his audience on edge as he presents her controlled interaction within the world of her employers and her desperation when she gets tauntingly close to breaking free.

Based on the true story of Mende Nazer, who escaped slavery in 2000, Jeremy Brock writer of The Last King of Scotland, avoids the “worthy” label with a sparse script. As Wumni mentioned, Malia doesn’t have many lines. Her personality is shut down and her speech controlled. This only makes Mosaku’s ability to covey her warmth even more impressive.

Through comforting non-linear storytelling, Malia uses memory to sustain her in London. She reminds us that amidst this fast city awash with arts, fuelling progress, there are those who are forced to be here.

I Am Slave is on Channel 4 on Monday 30th August