Half of a Yellow Sun (film)

This article is about the 2013 film adaptation. For the novel of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, see Half of a Yellow Sun.

Half of a Yellow Sun
Theatrical poster
Directed byBiyi Bandele
Screenplay byBiyi Bandele
Based onHalf of a Yellow Sun
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Produced byAndrea Calderwood
Gail Egan
StarringThandiwe Newton
Chiwetel Ejiofor
Anika Noni Rose
Joseph Mawle
John Boyega
Onyeka Onwenu
Genevieve Nnaji
Hakeem Kae-Kazim
CinematographyJohn de Borman
Edited byChris Gill
Music byBen Onono
Paul Thomson
Production
companies
  • Shareman Media
  • Slate Films
  • British Film Institute(BFI)
  • Lipsync Productions
Distributed byMetro International
Leap Frog Films
FilmOne Distribution
Soda Pictures
Monterey Media[1]
Release dates
  • 8 September 2013 (2013-09-08) (TIFF)
  • 16 May 2014 (2014-05-16) (United States)
  • 21 March 2014 (2014-03-21) (United Kingdom)
  • 12 April 2014 (2014-04-12) (Lagos premiere)
  • 1 August 2014 (2014-08-01) (Nigeria)
Running time
111 minutes
CountriesNigeria
United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget₦1.3[2] – 1.6 billion
(US$8[3] – 10 million[4])
Box office₦340 million[5][6]
(US$2.1 million)

Half of a Yellow Sun is a 2013 Anglo-Nigerian drama film directed by Biyi Bandele and based on the novel of the same name by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This film explores the profound themes of identity, love, and resilience in the face of war. It confronts the complexities of personal relationships set against the backdrop of political chaos, while also addressing the lingering effects of colonialism on Nigerian society. The narrative portrays the struggle for personal identity and the quest for love amidst the horrors of war, offering a poignant reflection on the human condition during one of Africa's most challenging historical periods.

It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandiwe Newton, Onyeka Onwenu, Anika Noni Rose, Joseph Mawle, Genevieve Nnaji, OC Ukeje and John Boyega[7] and was filmed on location in Nigeria. The film premiered in the Special Presentation section at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.[8] It had a mixed reception from critics.

  1. ^ "Monterey Media Acquires TIFF Dramas 'Half Of A Yellow Sun' & 'Cinemanovels'". Deadline Hollywood. 13 January 2014. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  2. ^ "'Half Of A Yellow Sun' Confirmed as Nollywood's Most Expensive Movie". Information Nigeria. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  3. ^ Tlhabi, Redi (4 May 2013). "South2North : Welcome to Nollywood". Al Jazeera. YouTube (Al Jazeera English). Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  4. ^ Fisher, Luchina (9 May 2014). "Nigeria's Nollywood Reaches Mainstream with 'Half of a Yellow Sun'". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  5. ^ "HALF OF A YELLOW SUN GROSS N280 MILLION...IN NIGERIAN CINEMAS AUGUST 1". This Day. This Day Live. 20 July 2014. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  6. ^ Ben Murray-Bruce (28 December 2014). "30 Days In Atlanta is Nigeria's highest grossing film". Sun News Online. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  7. ^ Felperin, Leslie (11 October 2013). "Half of a Yellow Sun: London Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Half of a Yellow Sun". TIFF. Archived from the original on 8 August 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.