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N1.7 billion Half of a Yellow Sun faces uncertainty

-Censors board delay triggers outrage

The continued delay in the release of the movie, Half of a Yellow Sun enters the second week as Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) still withhold. It’s certification to kick start the screening in cinemas across Nigeria, and as it is now, there is no new date as to when it is going to be released.

The film which is an adaptation of Chimamanda Adichie’s novel, Half of a Yellow Sun was scheduled to be screened in cinemas on Friday April 25, 2014. There was a postponement because the producers couldn’t get the required approval from the film board, a development which dragged till the second week which was why nothing came up on the rescheduled Friday, May 2, 2014 date and the producers were left frustrated.

On Tuesday, April 29 2014, the Nigerian Censors Board released a statement through its Head Of Corporate Affairs, Ceasar Kagbo that it has not banned the movie rather there are issues on ground concerning certain contents in the film and it will be resolved soon.

Director of the movie, Biyi Bandele questioned the claim by the film board, insisting the body should disclose the unresolved issue. “So, what are the unresolved issues”?

Fresh indication that the film may be delayed because of few inciting scenes surfaced during the week, there was a private meeting involving a team of security operatives, representatives of the film board and the distributor of the film at Surulere, Lagos. There was a private screening to enable security operatives assess it as well as make their recommendations. And until then, those itching to the movie would have to wait.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE MOVIE

Chimamanda Adichie, author of the novel, Half of a Yellow Sun which was adapted into a movie didn’t envisage the deafening accolades it has received all around the world. Gulping all of $10 million, HOAYS was shot in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. However, those itching to watch the movie because of Nigerian super star actress Genevieve Nnaji should prepare their mind to meet a different thing in the movie. The actress only appeared twice as what has been termed waka pass. She played the role of a Yoruba lady to add sarcasm in the movie. O.C Ukeje too appeared once and that was when he was running out of town to avoid being caught by the advancing Nigerian troops. Zack Orji and Wale Ojo too appeared once and that was at the first scene. So the film poster which has Genevieve, O.C Ukeje appearing as if they are the lead cast was deliberate. It was meant, according to Yewande Sadiku, executive producer of the film to capture the Nigerian audience and market.

The film revolves around the lives of four people swept up in the turbulence of war. Olanna (Newton) and Kainene (Rose) are glamorous twins from a wealthy Nigerian family. Returning to a privileged city life in newly independent 1960s Nigeria after their expensive English education, the two women make very different choices. Olanna shocks her family by going to live with her lover, the revolutionary professor Odenigbo (Ejiofor) and his devoted houseboy Ugwu (Boyega) in the dusty university town of Nsukka; Kainene turns out to be a fiercely successful businesswoman when she takes over the family interests, and surprises herself when she falls in love with Richard (Mawle) an English writer. Preoccupied by their romantic entanglements, and a betrayal between the sisters, the events of their life loom larger than politics. However, they become caught up in the events of the Nigerian civil war, in which the lgbo people fought an impassioned struggle to establish Biafra, an independent republic, ending in chilling violence which shocked the entire country and the world.

 -FOLUSO SAMUEL

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