‘War Witch’ actress Rachel Mwanza journeys from the Congolese streets to the Oscars

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Not only was the film shot entirely in the Congo, it incorporates numerous cultural elements of the country as both thematic devices and narrative catalysts. The area’s fascination with witchcraft and religion, for instance, was an experience Nguyen implanted as a tool of manipulation among the characters. It served to depict the unique dichotomy of the predominately Catholic demographic and its proclivities towards animism.

“We needed gunpowder for some reason – it didn’t reach the border at the time we were ready to shoot – so we went to this shaman and he sold us gunpowder,” Nguyen remembers about one particular interaction. “He said, ‘This is a gris-gris, you make your wish. It’s to punish your enemies. You blow on it, and within a 1.5 km radius, your opponent will be struck by lightening.’ So it’s very concrete and palpable.’”

“With our culture, we have the tendency to think all of it is bad,” he continues. “But when it’s put in the good light, it tries to mix – you know when we try to interpret our dreams in psychotherapy, a lot of animism and magic relates to that. Trying to make sense of things that are irrational, and whatever angle you take on it, it helps you make sense. Unfortunately, too many times it’s used for the wrong reasons.”

Despite the subject matter, Mwanza feels the most difficult part of making her first film was the fear of jeopardizing her real-life relationship. The actress says she was concerned people would witness her onscreen fling, and think she was cheating on her boyfriend. In fact, she even attempted to be “adversarial” with her acting colleague between takes to limit the confusion.

More surprising, Mwanza does not know how to read, and wasn’t given a script to work with in the process. The film was instead shot chronologically and through improvisation. Nguyen adds that Mwanza’s “innate sense of acting” was that of a skilled method performer, as she constantly pulled from her own experiences to inhabit the complexity of the role.

“Right now, there’s too much suffering in the Congo, and it’s really tough for everyone,” she describes. “There are too many kids in the street. There are centers in Kinshasa, but most of them aren’t any good. They are just these blocks of concrete with kids sleeping in them.”

Mwanza has been traveling internationally since the premiere of the film in 2012, and earning accolades along the way. In addition to War Witch’s Academy Award nomination, the young star received the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin Film Festival as well as Best Actress at the Tribeca Film Festival. The movie opens in New York theaters on Friday, and will rollout across the U.S. in the weeks to follow.

Along with the idea that “love conquers all,” Mwanza says she hopes the movie helps people to realize that the issues and people depicted in the story do exist. And while her current focus now on fulfilling her dreams, she has one other goal in mind: meeting Beyoncé.

“She’s wise. She has a big heart. She’s nice. She’s sweet and she’s beautiful. And she’s polite,” Mwanza points out.

Miming a cigarette drag, she adds, “She wasn’t part of any scandals.”

War Witch can be seen in select theaters nationwide beginning March 1. Click here for details.

Follow Courtney Garcia on Twitter at @CourtGarcia