Tuesday, 22 April 2014

Review of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun



This movie was premiered at the Odeon Streatham. Although our team could not be at the movie, we were privileged to watch the screening at the Odeon Greenwich on Monday 21st April 2014.  According to their Facebook page, the movie is based on a book by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and was written and directed by Biyi Bandele.

Storyline: The movie was based on the adaptation of a 450 page and was centred around the effects of the Nigerian-Biafran war. The effects of this war is depicted through relationships between four people's lives. After the British leave and Nigeria gets her independence, the lives of the main characters are torn apart. The storyline was as close as it could possibly have been to what happened in post independent Nigeria and how there was corruption, ethnic issues that eventually led to a military coup in Nigeria and the Eastern part of Nigeria declaring its independence as a new country called Biafra. The story also depicted how the subsequent war between Nigeria and the breakaway Biafra led to the loss of many lives, destruction of property and changing the lives and destiny of people.

Olanna and Kainene are glamorous twins from a wealthy Nigerian family. Upon returning to a privileged city life in newly independent 1960s Nigeria after their expensive English education, the two women make very different choices. Olanna shocks her family by going to live with her lover, the "revolutionary professor" Odenigbo and his devoted houseboy Ugwu in the dusty university town of Nsukka; Kainene turns out to be a fiercely successful businesswoman when she takes over the family interests, and surprises even herself when she falls in love with Richard, an English writer. Preoccupied by their romantic entanglements, and a betrayal between the sisters, the events of their life seem to loom larger than politics. However, they become caught up in the events of the Nigerian civil war, in which the lgbo people fought an impassioned struggle to establish Biafra as an independent republic, ending in chilling violence which shocked the entire world.

Although I have not read the book, I was so intrigued how the story was told leaving no doubts in my mind. From beginning of the film to the end, I could not take my eyes off the screen. There was a bit of everything, humour, brutality, love etc. At the end of the movie, we were told what happened to the major characters. I also enjoyed seeing props such as old cars like the Volkswagen and Peugeot 404, the old style radios etc. Based on the above, especially as it is an adaptation of a book, for the storyline, I give a 10

Cast: The movie showcased lot of talented the cast  which included Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejifor as Odenigbo,  BAFTA award winner Thandie Newton as Olanna Odenigbo's wife, Onyeka Owenu as Mama - Odenigbo's mother, O C Ukeju as Aniekwena Odenigbo's cousin, Genevieve Nnaji as Lara Adebayo, Joseph Malwe as Richard, Anima Noni Rose as Kainene - Olanna's twin sister, John Boyega as Ukwu – houseboy, Zack Orji as Cheif Ozobia Olanna's father, Wale Ojo as Minister Okonji, Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Captain Dutse, Tina Mba as Mrs Ozobia and Gloria Young as Olanna's Auntie.

Again, I was intrigued by the way the cast worked together and played their roles properly. While I would not want to commend the experienced actors, I must make mention of a few people that I thought did absolutely well in the roles they were given. I would like to commend John who played the role of a houseboy Ukwu. I have never seen him in any movie before, but he is a natural talent and someone that would go places if he remains focused. I have seen Onyeka Onwenu act in some movies and she has been here and there, but in this movie, she played the role of an arrogant mother and if you came from some homes, you thought that was your mother. Well done! Let me take one more actor. Joseph Malwe, I was seeing for the first time who played the role of Richard a lecturer from the UK. Again, you would think he lived in Nigeria during the period of the movie as it just came naturally to him. The use of film pictures as the visit of the Queen to Nigeria or speeches by the Biafran leader also added colour to the storyline.

It is one thing to have a good storyline and another thing to have the cast that can tell the story. This production married both properly and as such for the cast, I would give a 10.

Sound: I was overwhelmed as I watched the movie. I am used to hearing background noises or buzzes in most movies I review. However, as hard as I tried (and there may have been noises or buzzes), but both myself or my harsh Associate did not have any cause for concerns as we did not hear any other sounds apart from the voices of the actors and the effects e.g. the sound of bombs. For the sound therefore, I give another 10.

Picture quality: The picture quality was also solid with a mix of black and white videos depicting the 60s and clear pictures in other scenes. If I was to be so strict, there was a place where Mamas face was hidden. That being the case, not many people would have noticed this and this can easily be edited. On a whole for the picture quality, I give another 10.

Overall: On the whole, this film was properly researched and the correct cast played the correct roles. The props were right and there were a lot of extras but the movie was just natural. There was a flow and I was impressed. I cannot say more. For overall performance, I give another 10.


I have reviewed some movies in the past months and I cannot be give this film a 10 out of a possible 10. Very easily, I would recommend that people go and watch this movie. To the Director, cast and crew, I say well done!!
Watch the trailer:


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