15/07/2012

'Half a Yellow Sun' - the movie

The acclaimed novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Half of A Yellow Sun is becoming a movie.

It is currently filmed in Nigeria, as this article shows in Arise Magazine:

http://www.arisemagazine.net/articles/half-of-a-yellow-sun-in-nigeria/119587/



It is adapted for screen by Nigerian theatre director, playwright and novelist Biyi Bandele.

The production stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton and Genevieve Nnaji. It is filmed in Calabar, Nigeria. Filming ended on 23 June, according the Arise.

More details ont the story: Adichie´s bestselling story is set during the Nigerian-Biafran war during the 1960s. It then follows the lives of Olanna and Kainene, glamorous twin sister from a wealthy Nigerian family who must deal with a new reality amidst war.


So, it is the British-Zimbabwean actress Thandie Newton who has been chosen to take on the role of Olanna, one of the main character.

We can note that there's been a polemic about the choice of actress Thandie Newton to play the main character, an Igbo Nigerian woman facing war and hunger among other plagues. See for instance here:

http://afripopmag.com/2012/01/can-thandie-newton-play-an-igbo-woman/

I remember meeting Newton about 9 months ago, for the premiere in London of the brilliant documentary An African Election, by her actor friend Jarreth Metz. She was very happy to support this film reporting the 2006 Ghanean presidential election with brightness and talent. She was restless and very Hollywood... Mertz is Swiss Nigerian and grew up in Ghana. One of the interesting part of their discussion introducing the documentary was their shared experience of mixed origins between Europa and Africa, and the hassle of being a coloured actor in Hollywood, both being pretty good at relevently joking about it...

I guess we'll see about her performance once the film's out, let's give her a chance.

British-Nigerian Golden Globe nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the role of revolutionary professor Odenigbo, with John Boyega as his 'houseboy' Ugwu.

The wonderful singer-songwriter Keziah Jones is also said to be involved in the production, creating original music for the soundtrack.

The film is set to be released in 2013.

A website is dedicated to the book, if you want to know more:

http://www.halfofayellowsun.com/



--


More here: 


http://afripopmag.com/2012/07/half-a-yellow-sun-the-movie-wraps/

No comments:

Post a Comment