Half of a Yellow Sun, shown in Toronto at TIFF’13, is an extraordinary movie. This is a fictional drama is based on the highly acclaimed novel of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, published in 2006 to rave international reviews. The film, written and directed by Biyi Bandele, stars Thandie Newton (Olanna), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Odenigbo), Anika Noni Rose (Kainene), John Boyega (Ugwu), Joseph Mawle (Richard) and a large ensemble cast. Adichie was awarded the Orange Prize for Fiction (2007) for her book which is based on the story of two sisters Olanna and Kainene and takes an unflinching look at the political strife, loyalty, betrayals and atrocities that fuelled the terrible Nigerian-Biafran civil war and still echos in Africa today.

The story follows a small group of friends as they are swept up in the politics and reality of the Nigerian-Biafra war. It is based on the recent historical events in Africa surrounding Nigeria’s attempts to establish its independence. This sweeping epic, spanning years including the period of the war in Biafra (1967-1970) and takes the viewer across thousands of miles. This is a deeply moving look at a very significant, contemporary part of African history which resonates deeply with many in Africa and the African diaspora today. The film begins with Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Nigeria and continues through events surrounding the Nigerian-Biafran war.

The scale and the importance of the story cannot be overstated. As I was sitting waiting for the film to start, I overheard an older African American woman describe the film to her daughters as “Our story. Our history. Good and bad.” The movie doesn’t shy away from the horrors of civil war or the brutality that people involved were capable of subjecting each other to. The author of the book, Adichie says her book portrayed an “emotional truth” about Nigeria, Biafra and the war that is real today. There are several genuinely frightening scenes of murder and massacre. Entire families are uprooted and destroyed. At times, it is hard to watch. The addition of archival footage placing major figures of the time in Africa, reminds us that this is a story based on events that actually happened. Newton and Ejiofor had a very difficult task as actors. They rise to the occasion admirably, bringing warmth and an ability to expose the vulnerabilities of the characters they portray in Half of a Yellow Sun.

I usually try to temper my reviews with either some problems or some positives, depending on the film. Here, I can see nothing that would require correction. This is a ‘must see movie’ which will greatly expand your understanding of Africa, the history of colonization and the impact that history has had on African people everywhere in the world today. It will help explain some of the tensions present today. This is the kind of film TIFF was created for.

Donal O’Connor