Kemba – Movie Review and Summary

Plot Summary

Covering the story of Kemba Smith, we follow her story from meeting her former boyfriend Khalif in 1990 while going to Hampton University, him getting her in legal trouble, and her battle to avoid being in prison for 24 and a half years because of falling for the wrong man.

Character Descriptions

Character’s Name	Actor’s Name
Kemba	Nesta Cooper
Khalif	Siddiq Saunderson

Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.

Kemba

Kemba was a young woman who didn’t fit the profile of anyone you’d think would end up in prison. She came from a two-parent household, where her dad was a CFO, her mom was a school teacher, and she was well educated and even went to Hampton University. But, with not getting to date or do anything till she got her freedom in college, she met the wrong man and, like many women, came to regret giving the time of day to a man who was oh so charming and made her feel special.

• The actor is also known for their role in “#RealityHigh.”

Khalif

Khalif is a drug dealer who moved over 500 pounds of crack cocaine during his career and conned the innocent-looking Kemba to help him move money, but not drugs.

• The actor is also known for their role in “R#J.”

Review

Good If You Like

• Stories based on real people and events

Similar To This

1. Origin: Similar vibe in terms of decent in presenting the facts, but disappointing narrative structure
2. Rustin: Gives an NAACP/Civil Rights story that isn’t necessarily overdone

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Highlights

It Reminds You That The Legal Defense Fund and NAACP Didn’t Lose Relevance After The 1960s Civil Rights Movement

When it comes to the NAACP and its Legal Defense Fund, LDF, it is sometimes referred to as, it is easy to believe the use peaked in the Civil Rights Movement, and since then? Well, someone pops up when there is an opportunity to be in front of a camera.

But, lest we forget, even before social media, the court of public opinion mattered almost as much as what happened in the courtroom, and the playbook hasn’t changed for generations.

That is why learning stories like Kemba’s matter, for it’s easy to see any organization exploiting someone in a vulnerable position, seeking to draw money from their tragedy, and forgetting the work involved. But “Kemba” reminds you why these organizations still matter, and while, yes, there might be many among their members who only believe in taking on what can seem like perfect cases, like Kemba’s, due to limited funding, one saved life, one well-done case, sets precedents that could allow more to get justice, if not freedom.

On The Fence

It Gets Dull Quickly

One thing I’ll give “Kemba” is that there is no aim to present gravitas. You won’t see a “Rustin” type performance or the type you’ve seen in dozens of MLK-type movies. However, while you can appreciate the lack of reason to question if something has been embellished or fabricated, unfortunately, without that character or actor with notable charisma who pops on the screen, you’re left with something that can quickly lose your attention.

I’m not talking about an hour in, either. I’m talking about 20 minutes, for Kemba is a regular girl; her boyfriend wasn’t anyone made into anything special as a drug dealer, even if he moved a lot of crack. So, while there is no denying the focus was presenting the facts, as for fleshing out details and throwing that into a compelling narrative structure? “Kemba” falters in the execution.

Background Information

Director(s)	Kelley Kali
Screenplay By	Christine Swanson
Date Released	February 22, 2024
Where To Watch	BET Plus
Genre(s)	Crime, Drama, Young Adult, Biopic
Film Length	1 Hour 47 Minutes
Content Rating	Rated TV-MA

Content Information

• Dialog: Cursing
• Violence: Family Violence, Blood
• Sexual Content: Sexual Situations (Implied), Depiction of Abuse
• Miscellaneous: Depiction of Corpses, Body Horror, Drinking, Drug Use, Eating Disorder, Vomiting, Smoking