To Biafra independence! “Half the Yellow Sun” is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The novel was favorably received by critics and ordinary readers. Chimamanda herself is from the Igbo (Ibo) tribe, was born in Nsukka, Nigeria. Later, the town and the Igbo tribe will become the main characters of her novel. At the time of writing, the writer was 26-27 years old, and despite her youth, she managed to write a truly outstanding novel. The Nigerian civil war, one of the bloodiest on the African continent, has become a terrifying backdrop for the family drama of the young sisters, their companions and the faithful servant Ugwu. One can only wonder how this young woman, who gave birth after that war, managed to describe the human tragedies and horrors of war so realistically.
Unfortunately, the film does not cause such violent reactions. In the director's chair - Nigerian, in the roles - Nigerian by blood Chiwetel Ejiofor, experienced actress Tandy Newton, John "my appearance in the SV made a noise" Noyega, in secondary roles are all colorful aunts in colorful scarves, rich material (love, war, treason, politics, explosions). All this has produced a poor result.
It is sad that the director decided to make Pearl Harbor with an African flavor, completely ignoring the war itself. There were cheap explosions, there were radio reports, and the horror of war, which was so vividly conveyed in Chimamanda’s book, was not. In "Half the Yellow Sun," escape from explosions looks like a Benny Hill show.
It was a mistake to cast Olanna Tandy Newton. No offense, but to call this actress a lush African beauty, driving mad any man who looked at her, the tongue will not turn. It is funny that Kainene, in the book thinning as a bicycle, seemed like a bad girl against the background of her sister, when in the film it is the cold Kainene that causes more sympathy. Scary as my life, Richard fits perfectly into the role: goofy, eternally apologetic and hopelessly white. The only one I liked was Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Thus, the viewer is offered an uneven narrative about the complexity of love in wartime. Africa has its own Santa Barbara.
6 out of 10