On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

Name: On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
Director: Rungano Nyoni
Genre: 35, 18
Released: 2024
Cast: Susan Chardy, Elizabeth Chisela, Esther Singini, Blessings Bhamjee, Doris Naulapwa

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People

Rungano Nyoni• Director Susan Chardy Elizabeth Chisela Esther Singini Blessings Bhamjee Doris Naulapwa Henry B.J. Phiri Roy Chisha Benson Mumba Chungu Bwalya Margaret Mulubwa

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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.

Who would love this

♥Viewers who appreciate auteur-driven cinema with a strong directorial vision.
♥Audiences interested in films that tackle complex social issues like trauma, abuse, and tradition.
♥Those who enjoy films that embrace ambiguity and indirect storytelling.
♥Viewers looking for powerful performances and striking visual artistry.
♥Fans of black comedies that blend humor with serious subject matter.

Who might not

✗Viewers who prefer straightforward narratives with clear resolutions.
✗Those who are uncomfortable with challenging subject matter or intense emotional themes.
✗Audiences seeking light-hearted or purely entertaining films.
✗Viewers who dislike ambiguity or films that require significant interpretation.

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What critics are saying about On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is a complex movie whose meanings and effects are achieved indirectly, and the film shows that some of the ritualistic spectacle may not just be about denial, but also about working through emotions. That’s refreshing, when so much cinema just wants to give you everything on a plate and erase any ambiguity.

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl review – Rungano... | The Guardian

A24 opens “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl” in theaters Friday, March 7, 2025.They burn like a flame that has too much kindling to ever be extinguished on its own, and the scarring power of Nyoni’s film ignites from Shula’s eventual realization that she would rather torch her family to the ground than let them forget what happened. After all, what is tradition if not a shared memory? Grade: B+. “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl” premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. A24 releases it in theaters Friday, March 7, 2025.

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl Review: Trauma & Tradition Clash in Zambia