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| Andrea Calderwood (Producer), Anika Noni-Rose, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Biy |
Last weekend, the movie adaptation of
Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel, Half of a Yellow Sun, made its world premiere at the 38th annual
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), Canada.
Directed by prolific UK-based Nigerian playwright, Biyi Bandele and produced by Andrea Calderwood (HBO’s Generation Kill, The Last King of Scotland: winner of three BAFTAs and an Oscar), the movie received a standing ovation at the end of its first-ever screening, in a spontaneous display of appreciation for the creative and cinematographic genius that it represents.
Basking in the euphoria of a story well told and a movie that has enjoyed rave review internationally, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, award-winning author of the novel of the same title, joined the cast at the movie premiere, adding to the panache and splendour of the evening.
The cast was out in full strength too – Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Genevieve Nnaji, Onyeka Onwenu, John Boyega and Wale Ojo.
They were all acknowledged and celebrated for their respective parts in telling the very strong story with such depth, reach and emotion.
Half Of A Yellow Sun, a novel published in 2006 and was awarded the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2007, is a tale of two women during Nigeria’s independence and Nigerian-Biafran War between 1957 and 1970.
Directed by prolific UK-based Nigerian playwright, Biyi Bandele and produced by Andrea Calderwood (HBO’s Generation Kill, The Last King of Scotland: winner of three BAFTAs and an Oscar), the movie received a standing ovation at the end of its first-ever screening, in a spontaneous display of appreciation for the creative and cinematographic genius that it represents.
Basking in the euphoria of a story well told and a movie that has enjoyed rave review internationally, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, award-winning author of the novel of the same title, joined the cast at the movie premiere, adding to the panache and splendour of the evening.
The cast was out in full strength too – Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Anika Noni Rose, Genevieve Nnaji, Onyeka Onwenu, John Boyega and Wale Ojo.
They were all acknowledged and celebrated for their respective parts in telling the very strong story with such depth, reach and emotion.
Half Of A Yellow Sun, a novel published in 2006 and was awarded the Orange Prize for Fiction in 2007, is a tale of two women during Nigeria’s independence and Nigerian-Biafran War between 1957 and 1970.
The film explores the tale of twin sisters
Olanna (Thandie Newton), a professor’s beautiful young mistress who abandoned her life in Lagos for
a dusty town and her lover’s charm and Kainene (Anika
Noni Rose). They are daughters of a rich businessman who follow different
paths. Olanna falls in love with Odenigbo (Ejiofor), a
university professor and
a revolutionary activist who fathers a child by another woman, while Kainene is
having a romantic affair with a white British writer (Joseph Mawle), who is in
Nigeria to teach.
Olanna and Kainene flee to the south-eastern region of Nigeria where the Republic of Biafra is declared during the civil war. Olanna accepts Odenigbo’s illegitimate daughter as her own and as they flee. They have to live in increasing poverty, while Kainene moves from running a major company for her father to overseeing a refugee camp. The story celebrates the two ladies’ strength in the face of adversity.
Biyi Bandele did well as the director. The setting, makeup, costume and locations are perfect for the movie.
Olanna and Kainene flee to the south-eastern region of Nigeria where the Republic of Biafra is declared during the civil war. Olanna accepts Odenigbo’s illegitimate daughter as her own and as they flee. They have to live in increasing poverty, while Kainene moves from running a major company for her father to overseeing a refugee camp. The story celebrates the two ladies’ strength in the face of adversity.
Biyi Bandele did well as the director. The setting, makeup, costume and locations are perfect for the movie.
Nollywood veteran and entertainer, Onyeka
Onwenu, received an ovation from the
audience during the première in Toronto for her portrayal of Odenigbo's mother, a key character in the movie.
audience during the première in Toronto for her portrayal of Odenigbo's mother, a key character in the movie.
Actress Thandie Newton, 40, who played
Olanna in the movie, is pregnant with her third child. Her ability to interpret her
role perfectly well as Olanna makes the movie more interesting.
Similarly, Anika Noni Rose, a driven woman
who has to tackle her own challenges really fit in as Kainene in the movie. In
fact, movie lovers and fans of the novel will surely enjoy the movie adaptation
of Half Of A Yellow Sun.
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