Dark
Light

Suggestions

A Review of Half of a Yellow Sun – The movie

January 13, 2024
2 mins read

By Ikhide R.
Ikheloa

Monday, September 08, 2014.

Once upon a time, beautiful men and women rose as
leaders to embrace the awesome promise of an emerging nation, Nigeria. They
were poets and soldiers, intellectuals and doers who mesmerized the world with
beautiful words and crisp uniforms – and proceeded to take the promise apart
brick by brick with graft, incompetence and civil strife. Chimamanda Ngozi
Adichie’s epic novel Half of a Yellow Sun about Nigeria’s anxieties and
the ensuing civil war spoke to the heart of that broken promise in a unique and
mesmerizing way. Half of a Yellow Sun is a beautiful book that should be
required reading in every classroom, so that we may never forget. Many years
ago, I was so taken by it, I wrote a cringe-worthy review in which I gushed aloud my
hope that the book would be turned into a movie.

My prayers were answered, there is a movie and all I can say is that Biyi
Bandele the movie director, who also wrote the script, did a great job, never
mind the reviews. It is not a perfect movie, but it certainly entertained me.
Let me just say that it is important for those who are interested in Nigeria’s
history to watch the movie. At the very least, this pretty movie is a
conversation starter; you watch the movie and all these questions come rushing
at you. You want answers. Nigeria is a nation that deleted history from its
classrooms’ curriculum. We need movies like this in each classroom so that
children can rediscover the joy of being inquisitive.

What did I like about the movie? Well, start with Bandele’s attention to
detail, the period dresses, hairstyles, the music, the Cuban era cars driving
on the wrong side of the road and your heart melts. Miriam Makeba starts out
the movie with the haunting song, The Naughty Little Flea and Africa comes sailing back
into your soul in reverse black and white. I loved the historical pieces
dispersed within the narrative, of a young Queen Elizabeth visiting Nigeria in
1956, a young Ojukwu trying to lead Biafra, etc. History buffs will have a
field day deconstructing this narrative. And when the ever-befuddled white
writer Richard (Joseph Mawle) gets down with sultry Kainene (Anika Noni Rose)
on the dance floor and proves with Rex Lawson’s rollicking highlife piece Bere Bote that white men can’t dance,
you are grinning and reaching for more popcorn and beer. It is a powerful cast
of powerful actors and actresses, more importantly the chemistry among them was
electric.

Do not die until you have watched Thandie Newton play Olanna. And the chemistry
between the twins Olanna and Kainene has to be seen to be relished, this is
simply fine acting. Chiwetel Ejiofor was great as Odenigbo; he came across as
hardworking, paying attention to every detail, down to the accent even. And I
thought John Boyega played the role of the houseboy Ugwu magnificently. By the
way, does anyone notice he looks a bit like a young Denzel Washington? However
Onyeka Onwenu and Genevieve Nnaji looked like they needed acting classes, they
were mechanical in their thankfully bit roles, the script did not give them the
space to strut their stuff, if they had any. Onwenu’s overwrought acting was
comical – and not in a good way. Again, kudos to Bandele for assembling a
(mostly) star cast.

Half of a Yellow
Sun – The movie

Directed by Biyi
Bandele

 

Ikhide R. Ikheloa is a literary critic, writer and
columnist, and can be reached at xokigbo@yahoo.com. He blogs at http://xokigbo.wordpress.com/ . You can follow him on Twitter at @Ikhide .

Post Views: 4,633

2,456 Comments

  3. екатерина шугаева википедия,
    шугаева екатерина анатольевна
    расклад ленорман на поиск работы
    the chariot таро значение работа расклад крестовина на картах таро масса
    земли 6*10^24 масса луны 7 3*10^22,
    масса земли равна 5 98 10 масса луны

    Reply

  4. если снится одноклассники как задать вопрос таро на беременность, расклад
    на беременность на старших арканах второй
    знак зодиака как называется, второй знак
    зодиака по дате рождения гадание на картах таро на да нет онлайн правдивое и точное, гадание таро да-нет значение к чему снится открывать дверь изнутри

    Reply

  7. сонник старая ночнушка, исламский сонник ночнушка суд старшие арканы чувства мужчины, страшный суд перевернутый чувства мужчины опаздывать во сне на самолет,
    опаздывать на самолет во сне но успеть 10 самых известных созвездий,
    созвездие орион видеть во сне украшения
    исламский сонник, собирать украшения во
    сне

    Reply

  180. если сниться замок вопросы задаваемые для гадания на картах таро как снять с себя зло молитвой
    сонник покойного видеть живым во сне великая яса
    это, великая яса чингисхана доклад

    Reply

  192. Chronic HF patients undergoing hemodynamic tailoring with a low dose ОІ agonist or PDI can usually be monitored noninvasively can you buy priligy in usa A study suggests that the antidepressant medicine Celexa chemical name citalopram can lower the number and severity of hot flashes in postmenopausal women

    Reply

  374. тура қаласы, алматы туралы аңыз не айтам саған
    жаным ай текст, сенде кеттің менде кеттім ауылдан шерхан мұртаза барсхан, шерхан мұртаза ай мен
    айша идеясы технологиялық әдіс, жаңа инновациялық технологиялар түрлері

    Reply

  392. что является источником магнитного поля, применение магнитного поля митралия врачи,
    митралия петропавловск номер телефона сократ педагогикалық ойлары, педагогика тәрбие туралы ғылым
    ауыз бекіту уақыты актобе, ораза кестесі 2023 актобе облысы

    Reply

  631. майнинг ферма купить, майнинг ферма купить астана
    қыс туралы мәліметтер, қыс мезгілін сипаттау майлардың қызметі қандай, майдың
    пайдасы мен зияны какие существуют правила регистрации
    заболеваний, профзаболевание выплаты
    рк

    Reply

  742. сне приснилась собственная свадьба сонник паук большой, к чему снятся большие пауки
    в доме задача души 10 матрица судьбы, 10
    аркан в матрице судьбы в отношениях
    рамблер гороскоп на сегодня для стрельцов женщин
    скачать рингтон песни кукла колдуна король и шут

    Reply

  899. I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was curious what all is required
    to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny?
    I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100% certain.
    Any recommendations or advice would be greatly appreciated.
    Many thanks

    Reply

  2151. Казино предлагает множество игровых автоматов.: balloon game – balloon game

    Reply

  2155. balloon казино демо balloon игра Соревнуйтесь СЃ РґСЂСѓР·СЊСЏРјРё РЅР° игровых автоматах.

    Reply

  2159. Игра РЅР° деньги — это ваше развлечение.: balloon игра – balloon игра на деньги

    Reply

  2161. Заходите РІ казино, чтобы испытать удачу.: balloon казино – balloon казино официальный сайт

    Reply

  2178. Автоматы Ballon поражают своей красочностью.: balloon казино – balloon казино официальный сайт

    Reply

  2455. Holgura mecanica
    Equipos de ajuste: esencial para el rendimiento uniforme y optimo de las maquinarias.

    En el mundo de la avances actual, donde la rendimiento y la seguridad del equipo son de gran importancia, los dispositivos de equilibrado desempenan un rol fundamental. Estos equipos especificos estan concebidos para balancear y regular componentes giratorias, ya sea en maquinaria manufacturera, automoviles de movilidad o incluso en dispositivos de uso diario.

    Para los profesionales en mantenimiento de sistemas y los tecnicos, manejar con dispositivos de equilibrado es importante para promover el funcionamiento uniforme y estable de cualquier sistema rotativo. Gracias a estas opciones avanzadas modernas, es posible limitar notablemente las movimientos, el ruido y la presion sobre los soportes, mejorando la tiempo de servicio de componentes valiosos.

    De igual manera relevante es el tarea que tienen los aparatos de equilibrado en la atencion al usuario. El soporte especializado y el mantenimiento regular utilizando estos dispositivos posibilitan proporcionar asistencias de optima nivel, elevando la satisfaccion de los consumidores.

    Para los responsables de emprendimientos, la aporte en estaciones de balanceo y medidores puede ser fundamental para mejorar la eficiencia y productividad de sus dispositivos. Esto es particularmente relevante para los duenos de negocios que administran pequenas y medianas organizaciones, donde cada elemento es relevante.

    Asimismo, los equipos de balanceo tienen una gran implementacion en el sector de la fiabilidad y el monitoreo de estandar. Facilitan encontrar potenciales fallos, previniendo arreglos caras y danos a los dispositivos. Ademas, los informacion recopilados de estos aparatos pueden emplearse para optimizar metodos y mejorar la exposicion en plataformas de exploracion.

    Las sectores de aplicacion de los dispositivos de equilibrado comprenden diversas sectores, desde la manufactura de transporte personal hasta el supervision ecologico. No influye si se trata de grandes fabricaciones industriales o limitados locales hogarenos, los aparatos de ajuste son necesarios para promover un rendimiento optimo y libre de paradas.

    Reply

  2456. Everything is very open with a very clear explanation of
    the issues. It was really informative. Your site is very useful.
    Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous Story

Charles Reese Debuts the James Baldwin Literary & Conversation Salon Series in London, UK.

Next Story

Kara Walker’s Latest Offering: On Subtlety, or Out of the Mouth of Babes

Latest from Blog