Half of a Yellow Sun

Ever since the trailer for Half of a Yellow Sun surfaced on the internet, it has generated a lot of controversies and arguments. I stumbled upon a thread on Nairaland which was really an interesting read. A lot of topical issues were raised as touching the film industry in Africa.

Every few years, a film with a variation on this plot comes around: “Social strife is happening in x African country...and all that" You know these films. They’re your Sarafinas Blood Diamond s, Hotel Rwanda s, and Last King of Scotlands. Half of a Yellow Sun, from playwright-turned-filmmaker Biyi Bandele, is a drama that brings together the lives of four people during the struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria in the 1960s. Chiwetel Ejiofor (who also stars in 12 Years a Slave) and Thandie Newton play two lovers that are part of a wealthy family dealing with the turbulence of war. Co-stars Anika Noni Rose, Joseph Mawle & John Boyega (from Attack the Block).

Acclaimed actors Chiwetel Ejiofor (seen in this year's 12 Years A Slave as well as Children of Men, Serenity, Redbelt, 2012, Salt) and Thandie Newton (seen in W. , Crash , The Pursuit of Happyness , RocknRolla, For Colored Girls ) star in this epic chronicle of family ties and war from celebrated Nigerian playwright Biyi Bandele.

Half of a Yellow Sun is both written & directed by Biyi Bandele, a Nigerian novelist and playwright making his feature directing debut. He's adapting a novel written by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I am still hooked to her novel Purple Hirbiscus, which is now the WAEC syllabus.

The film was premiered at this year's Toronto International Film Festival, where it's seeking distribution. This is one movie I have really been anticipating. Newton and Ejiofor are great actors. I can' wait to see it in cinemas. Honestly it is a good look for Nigeria and Africa at large.