Movie review; Half of a Yellow Sun

Half of a Yellow Sun is a 2013 Nigerian
historical drama film directed by Biyi Bandele
and based on the novel of the same name by
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie . The film is a love
story that follows two sisters who are caught
up in the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War.
It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor , Thandie Newton ,
Onyeka Onwenu, Anika Noni Rose, Genevieve
Nnaji , OC Ukeje and John Boyega . [5] The film
premiered in the Special Presentation section
at the 2013 Toronto International Film
Festival .
Plot
During the mid-to-late sixties, twin sisters
Olanna ( Thandie Newton ) and Kainene ( Anika
Noni Rose ) return to Nigeria after their
education in England, they make decisions that
shock their family. Olanna moves in with her
lover, the ‘revolutionary professor’ Odenigbo
( Chiwetel Ejiofor ) and his houseboy Ugwu
( John Boyega ) while Kainene takes over the
family interests and pursues a career as a
businesswoman, falling in love with Richard
( Joseph Mawle ), an English writer.
As the Igbo people struggle to establish Biafra
as an independent republic, the sisters become
caught up in the shocking violence of the
Nigerian Civil War and a betrayal that
threatens their family forever.
Cast
Chiwetel Ejiofor as Odenigbo
Thandie Newton as Olanna
Onyeka Onwenu as Odenigbo's Mother
Genevieve Nnaji as Ms Adebayo
OC Ukeje as Aniekwena
Anika Noni Rose as Kainene
Joseph Mawle as Richard
John Boyega as Ugwu
Susan Wokoma as Amala
Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Captain DUTSE
Rob David as Redhead Charles
Babou Ceesay as Okeoma
Gloria Young as Aunty Ifeka
Wale Ojo as Chief Okonji
Tina Mba as Mrs Ozobia
Zack Orji as Chief Ozobia
Production
Half of a Yellow Sun was shot across five
weeks in Tinapa Studio, Calabar and Creek
Town, Nigeria. Bandele lists malaria and
typhoid as one of the major challenges of the
shoot, with several members of the cast and
crew becoming ill, including star Thandie
Newton.
Adaptation
Adichie was happy about the final product of
the film as she thinks It’s beautiful and very
well done, She also says the acting is very
good and she loves the fact that it was filmed
in Nigeria which was her only requirement.
Music inspired by the film
In February 2014, it was announced that
D'banj would release a track titled "Bother
You", a song inspired by the film, to coincide
with the release of the film. D'banj was
inspired to record "Bother You" after watching
the film. The music video for the song
includes images from the film.
Critical reception
Half of a Yellow Sun received mixed reception
from critics. It currently has a 52% aggregate
rating on Rotten Tomatoes with a 5.6 out of
10 average score, consensus states "While it
doesn't quite do justice to the source material,
Half of a Yellow Sun adapts Chimamanda
Ngozi Adichie's novel with committed
performances and narrative nuance".  Leslie
Felperin of The Hollywood Reporter writes that
it "is the kind of ambitious literary adaptation
that wants it all kinds of ways, not all of them
compatible" and "the script is studded with
great leaden lumps of expository dialogue".
Nollywood Reinvented says the film is no
where as good as the book, but points out
that "Even though the movie does not recreate
the emotions of the book it creates its own
emotions". It also says "The movie builds on
amazing sets, actors, supporting actors and
music", but the characters lack depth.
Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian gave a 2 out
of 5 stars and also commented that "there is
a heartfelt quality" but "unfortunately, the film
is often stately and sluggish with some very
daytime-soapy moments of emotional
revelation. At other times, it looks more like a
filmed theatrical piece".