Half of a yellow sun trailer

Gasps of delight as I watched the trailer for the film adaptation of Half of A Yellow Sun. The movie is the artistic vision of novelist turned director, Biyi Bandele.

Chiwetel Ejiofor looks divine as Odenigbo. His accent is so on point I get goose bumps listening to him speak. Thandie Newton and Anika Noni Rose’s accents are still worrying, but I’m willing to stay positive on their behalf.

The world premiere of the movie takes place at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival on August 20.

There’ll be another showing in Lagos at the Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) in November.

When asked about the movie, Adichie had always said that she was keeping her expectations modest. The trailer looks promising. So I’m guessing that she’s a bit more optimistic about the outcome of Bandele’s work.

I am rooting for the movie on all fronts. A great novel deserves a spectacular movie. Chiwetel once said: “Chimamanda’s version of the war was so close to what my grand­father had told me about, it brought tears to my eyes.” She’s told a good story. It looks like Bandele has just made it into a well-wrought movie.

Besides, with 80% of the movie’s 8 million dollar budget coming from Nigerian investors, it better make good money.

Here’s the trailer: