ON BECOMING A GUINEA FOWL
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, a family adventure from Rungano Nyoni
A member of the Résidence of the Festival in 2013, The Zambian director, screenwriter and actor Rungano Nyoni is back in Cannes with On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, screened at Un Certain Regard. After the critical success of her short film Kuu ntele (Listen) , Best Short Film award winner at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2015 and nominated for the Oscars , then I A m Not A Witch, her first feature film, the filmmaker is continuing to explore the complex themes and social realities of her homeland .
This second film takes us on an intriguing journey into the heart of Zambia, where the protagonist Shula discovers the body of her uncle lying on a deserted road in the middle of the night. While preparations are being made for the funeral, Shula and her cousins find themselves plunged into the hidden secrets of their middle-class Zambian family. In this free and surrealist story, the director analyses lies and dissects hidden mysteries and tensions.
Rungano Nyoni, appreciated for the complexity of her analysis of contemporary African societies, was part of the Feature Film Jury of the 76th edition, presided over by Ruben Östlund. I Am Not A Witch, a story of sorcery and superstition selected for the Directors’ Fortnight in 2017, was acclaimed for its narrative power and unique visual aesthetic, even winning the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut Film. In On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, the filmmaker returns to the question of traditions, which this time conflict with family secrets.
