15 December 2023

A Merry X-Mess (2023)

What happens when extended family with different personalities and agendas come together for Christmas? In this Kenyan Christmas feature, the Nyatis have to get through the seven days of Christmas without killing each other.

Chaos erupts when the competitive family matriarch Zawadi invites her equally competitive sister from the village to help her to win the annual family Christmas choir competition at church. Meanwhile, Zawadi tries to meddle in her son’s love life, while her daughter, visiting from America, grapples with the African traditions that her uncle tries to impose on her children and the allure of moving back home for good. As modern beliefs and traditions clash, and with the ultimate choir competition bringing out the worst and best in them, can the spirit of Christmas bring joy to the Nyati family?

Written by Damaris Irungu (Pepeta) and directed by Gilbert Lukalia, A Merry X-Mess stars Melissa Kiplagat (Country Queen), Bruce Makau (Kina), Sheila Munyiva (Country Queen), Mufasa Kibet (Crime and Justice), Regina Re (Pieces of Us), Joel Kennedy Otukho (Country Queen), Raymond Karago (Twende) Eunice Kangai and Naomi Ramtu.

A Merry X-Mess is Showmax’s second Christmas feature film in Kenya, following Reuben Odanga’s A Familiar Christmas last year.

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