Period talk is still a very hushed talk in our communities. I can confidently speak for African countries and communities. Not many girls are lucky to be educated about periods, how they come about, how they will make you feel and how to go about them. I am one of the lucky ones that got the period talk from my teachers when I was in class 4 so by the time my menses came in form 1, I was fully prepared. That is not the case for June in the film Impure. This film is inspired by the story of Jackline Chepng’eno a 14 year old who took away her life after being humiliated in class and chased by the teacher after soiling her uniform. This is back in 2019 yet to date, these stories still happen in certain communities which view period talk as a taboo.
Impure is a poignant and eye-opening film that tackles the rarely discussed but deeply important issue of period poverty through the lens of June, a twelve-year-old Kenyan girl. Directed with sensitivity and purpose, Impure sheds light on the unspoken struggles many young girls face when it comes to menstruation, particularly in underserved communities where access to menstrual products and education is limited.
The film, a German production, is 83 minutes long and premiered in September 7th 2024 in Nairobi. It is written,directed, produced and edited by Rico Herre. Impure was shot entirely in Kwale county, Kenya from the end of 2019 to the beginning of 2020 under a tight budget. The interior shots were filmed in Kinango county which made it authentic in portraying a very rural setting. Eunice Ruwa plays June and she is really really good at tapping into the audience’s emotions. Her little sister Kimya played by Millicent Mwanza is very inquisitive and innocent. June’s mother is played by Catherine Nduku who shows what a loving mother should be like and how fast she tries to fix things between her and June ,is truly admirable.
At the heart of the film is June, who experiences her first menstruation while at school. What should be a natural rite of passage quickly turns into a harsh awakening as she grapples with the reality of unawareness, exclusion, and shame.The teacher chases her from school telling her she is dirty as her fellow students laugh at her. I however, liked that no girl really laughed at her but I could tell how embarrassed they were on her behalf. Her confusion and fear are palpable as she realizes she has no one to turn to for guidance—neither her school nor her family has prepared her for this moment.Poor June thinks she has a deadly disease and runs away from home.
One of the film’s greatest strengths is how it captures the isolation and stigma surrounding menstruation. The audience is drawn into June’s world, where the lack of basic knowledge about her own body leaves her feeling embarrassed and alienated. The director skillfully portrays the emotional weight of these experiences, using tight, intimate shots of June as she struggles to comprehend what exactly is happening to her body.
The school setting is particularly significant. It serves as both a place of education and exclusion, highlighting the gaps in the system when it comes to teaching young girls about menstrual health. June’s classmates mock her, (the boys in this case), her teacher is dismissive, and the lack of sanitary products means she must endure the day in discomfort and fear. These scenes illustrate the broader societal issue of period poverty and lack of knowledge in Kenya and many parts of the world, where young girls often miss school or face discrimination simply because of their menstruation.
Impure also touches on the theme of community—or the lack thereof. June’s experience is a reflection of how communities can sometimes fail their most vulnerable members by not providing adequate support systems or education.The teacher sends June away but doesn’t follow up on whether the parent knows or if she understands what is going on. The film subtly critiques the silence around menstruation, urging viewers to question why something so fundamental to life is treated with such discomfort and shame. Janet Mbugua makes an appearance in the film. Her initiative, Inua dada has been very instrumental in talking about the girl child and period poverty.
Visually, the film makes effective use of its setting, contrasting the vibrant, hopeful world of a schoolyard with the darker, more isolating experience of menstruation for someone unprepared. The emotional depth of the film is further enhanced by a minimalist score that underscores the tension and uncertainty of June’s journey.
Impure is not just a film about menstruation; it’s a call to action. It shines a light on the urgent need for menstrual education and the importance of providing young girls with the resources they need to manage their periods with dignity. The film pushes us to confront the reality that many girls like June are forced to face every day—an experience marked by silence, shame, and exclusion.
The stigma around menstruation goes further than just period shaming. Simple things like covering sanitary towels in a magazine in the supermarket and treating girls and women on their period like something is wrong with them are part of the stigma. Do we have lessons on menstruation? At what age do we start teaching both girls and boys? It should be something both a father and mother can talk about to their kids. It is honestly crazy that we are still talking about period shaming at this time.Let me not even get into the fact that there is a whole case about some sanitary products which are harmful to women and kids in court at the moment or the fact that there was a whole bill to tax sanitary products when the conversation about period poverty is still very much in the room with us.
In conclusion, Impure is a deeply moving and socially relevant film that highlights the impact of period poverty on young girls. Through June’s story, the film invites us to empathize with the struggles these girls face and challenges us to break the stigma surrounding menstruation. The filmmakers did some test screenings in Samburu last year and it had great impact on young students. It’s not only a powerful reminder that access to menstrual products and education isn’t just a luxury-it’s a human right! but also a powerful tool that can be used in education globally. The film impure is door to a conversation around policy making, menstruation stigma and education that should have happened long ago.
The film scores a 7 out 10
Leave a comment