Article written by Samuel Olatunji. Read and share your thoughts on the points he raised
Over the weekend
in Lagos, Oscar nominee and BAFTA award winner, Chiwetel Ejiofor laid claim to
the fact that Half of a Yellow Sun is not just a Nigerian story but an international
story which has its implications and relevance across the world. The movie
which was centered on love could not have left the original plot out which
talks about the Biafran war.
By now you
probably have heard of Half of a Yellow
Sun, but no one has told you about the nudity and sex scenes, by the way it
was artistically done. Thandie Newton came out of the bath tub naked with her
two boobs standing at alert, Chiwetel and Thandie Newton had sex and there was
another sex scene in the movie, again all were artistically done. The question
is, can Nigerian actors ever go all the way in movies like these people did
(remember Chiwetel and Lupita in 12 Years a Slave)?
Toni Kan, a film
critic and author said the sex scene was well done, ‘you can’t be in the bath
tub and be fully dressed or start covering your body when your husband enters
the room like we do in our movies, Nigerians would love it and after all Ghanaians
have done more than that.’ He added that it justified the description in the
book. Besides this is collaboration between Nollywood and Hollywood and certain
things have to be made as real as possible.
A renowned
journalist, Steve Ayorinde, said nothing is offensive, ‘part of the reason we
don’t do well in our movies is because we don’t speak cinema language, and
nudity in movies is given unnecessary attention, you can’t be in your bath tub
and be clothed. Movies that win the Oscar are doing it professionally and the
actors and actresses see it as their job and the press doesn’t make a big deal
out of it. Also, our acts put restriction on themselves and film makers too and
that would not have allowed them go that far. In addition, our movies are not
professionally and maturely shot, we need to be lightened up about that and
start being professional.’
Shaibu Husseini,
a journalist and movie critic went on to say that the movie sure has to do with
arts and it contributes and advances the story, he doubts if we could do it.
‘Thandie is a professional and convinced it would help the film, we are from a
society where normal parts like that are daring and misinterpreted. It’s just
an actress portraying her character. Biyi Bandele even played down on some of
the descriptions.’
Written by Samuel Olatunji