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On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

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On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
Directed byRungano Nyoni
Screenplay byRungano Nyoni
Produced by
Starring
  • Susan Chardy
  • Elizabeth Chisela
  • Henry B.J. Phiri
CinematographyDavid Gallego
Edited byNathan Nugent
Music byLucrecia Dalt
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • May 16, 2024 (2024-05-16) (Cannes)
  • December 6, 2024 (2024-12-06) (United Kingdom and Ireland)
  • March 7, 2025 (2025-03-07) (United States)
Running time
95 minutes
Countries
  • Ireland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Zambia
Languages

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is a 2024 black comedy drama film written and directed by Rungano Nyoni, and starring Susan Chardy, Elizabeth Chisela and Henry B.J. Phiri. It is a co-production between Ireland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Zambia.

The film competed in the Un Certain Regard section at the 77th Cannes Film Festival on 16 May 2024. It is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom and Ireland on December 6, 2024, by Picturehouse Entertainment, and in the United States on March 7, 2025, by A24.

Premise

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On an empty road in the middle of the night, Shula stumbles across the body of her uncle. As funeral proceedings begin around them, she and her cousins bring to light the buried secrets of their middle-class Zambian family.[1]

Cast

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  • Susan Chardy as Shula
  • Elizabeth Chisela as Nsansa
  • Henry B.J. Phiri as Dad
  • Roy Chisha
  • Blessings Bhamjee

Production

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The film is written & directed by Rungano Nyoni and developed by BBC Film and Element Pictures.[2][3] Financing came from A24 alongside BBC Film and Fremantle.[4] David Gallego is the cinematographer on the project, and Malin Lindholm is the production designer. Producers include Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe for Element Pictures. Production was reported to have begun in October 2022.[5]

Release

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The film had its world premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section on May 16, 2024.[6][7][8] It also screened at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on September 5, 2024,[9][10] 2024 New York Film Festival on October 3, 2024,[11][12] the BFI London Film Festival,[13] and the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival 2024.[14]

It was originally scheduled to be released by A24 in the United States on December 13, 2024,[15] but was delayed to March 7, 2025.[16] In October 2024, it was announced that Picturehouse Entertainment had acquired UK and Irish distribution rights to the film, scheduling it for a release on December 6, 2024.[17]

Reception

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 37 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10.[18] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 80 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[19]

Accolades

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The film was nominated for Best British Independent Film and Best Director at the British Independent Film Awards in November 2024.[20]

Award Ceremony date Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Cannes Film Festival 24 May 2024 Un Certain Regard Rungano Nyoni Nominated
Un Certain Regard – Best Director[a] Won [21]

Notes

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  1. ^ Shared with Roberto Minervini for The Damned.

References

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  1. ^ "ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL". Festival de Cannes. Archived from the original on May 7, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  2. ^ "BBC Film celebrates four films in official selection at Cannes Film Festival 2024". BBC News. April 11, 2024. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  3. ^ "Irish films to have "strong presence" at 2024 Cannes Film Festival". IrishCentral. April 12, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  4. ^ Ritman, Alex (April 11, 2024). "A24 Boards Rungano Nyoni's Cannes Entry 'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on April 13, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Lavallee, Eric (January 11, 2023). "Top 200 Most Anticipated Foreign Films of 2023: #121. Rungano Nyoni's On Becoming a Guinea Fowl". Ioncinema. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  6. ^ "The films of the Official Selection 2024". Festival de Cannes. April 11, 2024. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL BY RUNGANO NYONI, IN UN CERTAIN REGARD SELECTION AT THE CANNES FESTIVAL 2024". Sortiraparis.com. April 11, 2024. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  8. ^ "The Screenings Guide of the 77th Festival de Cannes". Festival de Cannes. May 8, 2024. Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 8, 2024.
  9. ^ "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  10. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 22, 2024). "TIFF Galas & Special Presentations Lineup Includes World Premieres From Angelina Jolie, Mike Leigh, Gia Coppola; Starry Pics With Jennifer Lopez, Lily James, Dave Bautista; Int'l Premieres 'Conclave' & 'Piece By Piece', More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  11. ^ "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl". New York Film Festival. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  12. ^ Lewis, Hilary (August 6, 2024). "NY Film Festival Main Slate Includes Cannes Winners 'Anora' and 'Seed of the Sacred Fig'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  13. ^ "Competition films announced for 68th BFI London Film Festival". British Film Institute. August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  14. ^ Deb, Deepshikha (September 30, 2024). "MAMI Mumbai Film Festival Unveils 2024 Official Lineup". High On Films. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
  15. ^ "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl" (PDF). A24 Publicity. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  16. ^ Zilko, Christian (November 14, 2024). "'On Becoming a Guinea Fowl' Trailer: A Zambian Funeral Unearths Family Secrets and Cultural Tensions in A24's Festival Hit". IndieWire. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  17. ^ Dalton, Ben (October 10, 2024). "Picturehouse Entertainment buys Rungano Nyoni's 'On Becoming A Guinea Fowl' for UK-Ireland". Screen International. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  18. ^ "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  19. ^ "On Becoming a Guinea Fowl". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 8, 2024.
  20. ^ Ntim, Zac (November 5, 2024). "British Independent Film Awards: 'Kneecap' Leads Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  21. ^ Lodge, Guy (May 24, 2023). "Cannes Film Festival: 'Black Dog' Wins Un Certain Regard Award". Variety. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
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