Nigeria: A Yellow Sun and Its Many Controversies
Since its release, the movie adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's
book Half of a Yellow Sun, has been marred by a variety of
controversies. First, was its delayed release (because of some scenes
thought to be 'sensitive'), then what some people called a "lack of
efficient screen time" for the Nigerian actors in the movie. One thing
is sure; the movie has been in the news but not necessarily for the
right reasons. NET's Adedayo Odulaja takes a look at the movie and its
many controversies.
"The announcement that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's award winning book will become a movie can easily rank among the best entertainment-related stories that have emanated from Nigeria. Besides a few people who think [that] having Hollywood actors in the movie is a disservice to the relevant slice of history that Half of a Yellow Sun (in book from or on the big screen), most Nigerians were more than excited. While this is not another review of the movie, NET seeks to look at the entire project, putting in perspective its importance to the dream of a new Nollywood with functional storylines, quality pictures and ingenious directing, all of which the adaptation of Adichie's great book combine.
There have been many controversial moments dotting the lane of the project and we look at some of them in this report, from those relating to the movie and others which concern the politics and controversies trailing its cinema run.
Anika Noni Rose incredibly fails to play the Kainene character, just as Ugwu fails to come alive
One cardinal sin when looking at book adaptations is to compare the resultant movie to the source material in terms of plot structure and chronology. That said, Anika Noni Rose doesn't seem to understand the Kainene character she is supposed to bring to life and doesn't do a good job of it, despite being a fantastic actor herself. John Boyega is another brilliant actor who fails to sparkle in his role as Ugwu.
Thandie Newton impressive as Olanna, save for her flawed Nigerian accent
Save for her flawed accent, which is still inexcusable when one considers that her character and Anika Noni Rose's are supposed to have studied abroad for a while, Newton shines in her role as Olanna. A stint of a few years abroad do not make your accent fade except if you are a Nigerian ready to impress on all [that] you have been abroad. Ask Linguists. Think about her inability to even pronounce the name, Ugwu, let alone being unable to speak a word of Igbo as Olanna does in the book and you'll get the point.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie got too involved with the movie premiere and controversies
Most writers are scared to commit their books to movie adaptations and are usually almost mortified, even, to behold the end product of such ventures. Not Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the Nigerian woman rightly hailed as one of Africa's best writers. She was involved in the project from the beginning, but got too involved by putting out statements when the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) delayed the film's release in the country. The fact that a remix of KUSH's Let's Live Together was the movie's sound-track was also another point.
Issues about funding and sales grossly over-played
Being a cross-continental production, the issues of funding regarding the movie have continued to rear their heads, placing on record its uttermost importance to the future and growth of Nollywood, especially as it concerns collaborations with Hollywood. Unknown to most Nigerians, 80 per cent of the budget of the film, $8m in total, was sourced through Nigerian investors, both individual and corporate. But with Nigeria accounting for about 60 per cent of the film's crew and actors, including Zack Orji, Genevieve Nnaji, Onyeka Onwenu, Jude Orhoa, Tina Mba, Gloria Young, O.C Ukeje, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Chiwetel Ejiofor and others, some of that revenue has found its way to the Nigerian movie industry somehow.
Revenue versus cost figures don't look impressive
New data obtained by Nigerian Entertainment Today, NET, according to Image and Movie Database Pro (IMDBPro), shows that Box Office figures for the movie's run in foreign cinemas are a little over N22m, so far, aside the pending earnings from Nigeria. Bench-marking N22, 848, 785 against the over N1bn expended on the project paints a very worrying picture for all concerned but redemption can still come from the cinema run in the country currently, although that is now threatened by the evil of piracy. The public relations stunts by the producers of the movie continue through sending out releases that the movie has become the highest-grossing film in Nigeria yet, but they didn't release the figures that should lend credence to that claim.
What about Genevieve Nnaji as Kainene?
Finally, would it really not have been better for everyone and everything if Genevieve Nnaji had been cast as Kainene, for instance? Ever the queen, the grace she brings into her role as Miss Lara Adebayo is one of utter conviction and class.
"The announcement that Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's award winning book will become a movie can easily rank among the best entertainment-related stories that have emanated from Nigeria. Besides a few people who think [that] having Hollywood actors in the movie is a disservice to the relevant slice of history that Half of a Yellow Sun (in book from or on the big screen), most Nigerians were more than excited. While this is not another review of the movie, NET seeks to look at the entire project, putting in perspective its importance to the dream of a new Nollywood with functional storylines, quality pictures and ingenious directing, all of which the adaptation of Adichie's great book combine.
There have been many controversial moments dotting the lane of the project and we look at some of them in this report, from those relating to the movie and others which concern the politics and controversies trailing its cinema run.
Anika Noni Rose incredibly fails to play the Kainene character, just as Ugwu fails to come alive
One cardinal sin when looking at book adaptations is to compare the resultant movie to the source material in terms of plot structure and chronology. That said, Anika Noni Rose doesn't seem to understand the Kainene character she is supposed to bring to life and doesn't do a good job of it, despite being a fantastic actor herself. John Boyega is another brilliant actor who fails to sparkle in his role as Ugwu.
Thandie Newton impressive as Olanna, save for her flawed Nigerian accent
Save for her flawed accent, which is still inexcusable when one considers that her character and Anika Noni Rose's are supposed to have studied abroad for a while, Newton shines in her role as Olanna. A stint of a few years abroad do not make your accent fade except if you are a Nigerian ready to impress on all [that] you have been abroad. Ask Linguists. Think about her inability to even pronounce the name, Ugwu, let alone being unable to speak a word of Igbo as Olanna does in the book and you'll get the point.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie got too involved with the movie premiere and controversies
Most writers are scared to commit their books to movie adaptations and are usually almost mortified, even, to behold the end product of such ventures. Not Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the Nigerian woman rightly hailed as one of Africa's best writers. She was involved in the project from the beginning, but got too involved by putting out statements when the Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) delayed the film's release in the country. The fact that a remix of KUSH's Let's Live Together was the movie's sound-track was also another point.
Issues about funding and sales grossly over-played
Being a cross-continental production, the issues of funding regarding the movie have continued to rear their heads, placing on record its uttermost importance to the future and growth of Nollywood, especially as it concerns collaborations with Hollywood. Unknown to most Nigerians, 80 per cent of the budget of the film, $8m in total, was sourced through Nigerian investors, both individual and corporate. But with Nigeria accounting for about 60 per cent of the film's crew and actors, including Zack Orji, Genevieve Nnaji, Onyeka Onwenu, Jude Orhoa, Tina Mba, Gloria Young, O.C Ukeje, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Chiwetel Ejiofor and others, some of that revenue has found its way to the Nigerian movie industry somehow.
Revenue versus cost figures don't look impressive
New data obtained by Nigerian Entertainment Today, NET, according to Image and Movie Database Pro (IMDBPro), shows that Box Office figures for the movie's run in foreign cinemas are a little over N22m, so far, aside the pending earnings from Nigeria. Bench-marking N22, 848, 785 against the over N1bn expended on the project paints a very worrying picture for all concerned but redemption can still come from the cinema run in the country currently, although that is now threatened by the evil of piracy. The public relations stunts by the producers of the movie continue through sending out releases that the movie has become the highest-grossing film in Nigeria yet, but they didn't release the figures that should lend credence to that claim.
What about Genevieve Nnaji as Kainene?
Finally, would it really not have been better for everyone and everything if Genevieve Nnaji had been cast as Kainene, for instance? Ever the queen, the grace she brings into her role as Miss Lara Adebayo is one of utter conviction and class.
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