On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

by Rungano Nyoni, Zambia, 2024

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, in filmmaker Rungano Nyoni’s surreal and vibrant reckoning with the lies we tell ourselves.

Festivals & awards

Festival de Cannes, Un Certain Regard 2024: Meilleure réalisation
Zurich Film Festival: Bester Film
British Independent Film Awards: Best Director
Chicago International Film Festival: Best Ensemble Cast Performance
London Film Festival: Special Mention
Melbourne International Film Festival

artwork

Credits

Original Title
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
Title
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
Directed by
Rungano Nyoni
Country
Zambia
Year
2024
Screenplay
Rungano Nyoni
Film Editing
Nathan Nugent
Soundtrack
Lucrecia Dalt
Cinematography
David Gallego
Sound
Olivier Dandré
Costumes
Estelle Don Banda
Production Design
Malin Lindholm
Production
Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Tim Cole
Formats
DCP
Runtime
98 min.
Language
English, Bemba/df
Cast
Susan Chardy (Shula), Elizabeth Chisela (Nsansa), Esther Singini (Bupe), Blessings Bhamjee (Young Shula), Doris Naulapwa (Mother), Henry B.J. Phiri (Dad)

In cinemas

Fribourg

Jan. 22, 2025
12:15 p.m.
Korso 1 Heleen Wubbe
Jan. 23, 2025
12:15 p.m.
Korso 1 Heleen Wubbe
Jan. 24, 2025
12:15 p.m.
Korso 1 Heleen Wubbe
Jan. 25, 2025
12:15 p.m.
Korso 1 Heleen Wubbe
Jan. 27, 2025
12:15 p.m.
Korso 1 Heleen Wubbe
Jan. 28, 2025
12:15 p.m.
Korso 1 Heleen Wubbe

St-Imier

Feb. 2, 2025
2:30 p.m.
Espace Noir
Feb. 9, 2025
8 p.m.
Espace Noir
Feb. 16, 2025
5 p.m.
Espace Noir
Feb. 19, 2025
8 p.m.
Espace Noir

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Press voices

«A magically transcendent, cunningly funny, and arresting piece of cultural commentary that puts the inequalities of tradition against the warmth community can, still, on occasions, provide.» RogerEbert

«Rungano Nyoni has a wonderful way of drawing you into a world and intriguing you from the start, gradually peeling back the layers of enigmatic characters to explore Zambian culture.» Time Out