In news that should be music to the ears of many of you who’ve been anxiously awaiting an opportunity to finally see director Biyi Bandele’s adaptation of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s award-winning novel “Half of a Yellow Sun,” distributor monterey media and digital streaming platform Vimeo, have teamed up to release the acclaimed drama on the latter’s Vimeo On Demand service.
The film was released today, Sunday, June 29th, and is now available for rental ($3.99) and purchase ($12.99) on Vimeo On Demand. Visit Vimeo.com/OnDemand/HalfofaYellowSun now!
It saw a limited theatrical release, which means many of you didn’t see it while it was in theaters; so here’s your chance! It’s not in a theatrical setting, but it’s the next best thing.
Produced by Andrea Calderwood ("The Last King of Scotland" and "The Constant Gardener"), “Half of a Yellow Sun” first premiered at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. The film follows two glamorous twins, Olanna (Thandie Newton) and Kainene (Anika Noni Rose), from a wealthy Nigerian family, who upon returning to a privileged city life in newly independent 1960s Nigeria after their expensive English education, take very different life paths. Olanna shocks her family by going to live with her lover, the “revolutionary professor” Odenigbo (Academy Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor) and his devoted houseboy Ugwu (John Boyega) in the dusty university town of Nsukka; Kainene turns out to be a fiercely successful businesswoman when she takes over the family interests, and surprises even herself when she falls in love with Richard (Joseph Mawle), an English writer. Preoccupied by their romantic entanglements, and a betrayal between the sisters, the events of their life seem to loom larger than politics. However, they become caught up in the events of the Nigerian civil war, in which the lgbo people fought an impassioned struggle to establish Biafra as an independent republic, ending in chilling violence, which shocked the entire world.
“Half of a Yellow Sun is a beautiful, touching story which has deeply engaged fans of film and history,” said Sam Toles, Vice President Content Acquisition and Business Development, Vimeo. “We are thrilled to partner monterey media as a digital launch platform for this important film.”
“We are very excited to team up with Vimeo to share the release of this timely film with their vast audience,” said Scott Mansfield, CEO and Managing Partner of monterey media.
“Half of a Yellow Sun” is rated R and runs 113 minutes.
Below, watch a new clip from it, featuring stars Ejiofor, Newton, Boyega and Genevieve Nnaji, and then head over to Vimeo.com/OnDemand/HalfofaYellowSun to rent or buy it.
