Continuing with Sundance 2013 first looks, here's a first glance at Andrew Dosunmu's first post-Restless City project, Ma'George (or Mother Of George), which will make its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival next January, 2013.
The talent alone that's involved in Ma'George, both in front of and behing the camera, should excite you: there's cinematographer extraordinaire Bradford Young, who also shot Andrew's Restless City, Dee Rees' Pariah, and Ava DuVernay's Middle Of Nowhere.
And then there's the film's starring cast: Danai Gurira plays the lead character (a woman torn between tradition and a new life in the USA, struggling to please her husband and give him the son that will carry on his family’s legacy). Now if that name sounds familiar to you, it should, given that she plays the sword-wielding Michonne in the AMC's hit zombie series The Walking Dead; secondly, there's frequent Jim Jarmusch collaborator Isaach De Bankole – a man with a face that's its own character; we've written about him several times on this site, and I hope most of you recognize the name. And last, but certainly not least, Yaya Dacosta (I doubt she needs an intro here), rounds out the cast.
Here's its synopsis:
Ayodele Balogen (Isaach De Bankolé) owns a small African restaurant in Brooklyn. His fiancée, Adenike Matashane (Danai Gurira), has waited six years to start a new life with Ayo in the US. Ayo and Adenike have a traditional Basotho wedding, culminating in a ceremony where Adenike is named for her yet to be conceived son, George. But as months pass, Ma George's pregnancy attempts fail and her loneliness intensifies. Torn between her Basotho culture and new life in America, Ma George struggles to save her marriage, stopping at no cost to give Ayo his much-awaited son.
As one of 10 2012 projects that made our "Most Excited About" list, we are definitely looking forward to whatever Andrew has been cooking for the last 2 or so years.
No trailer nor clips yet, but above you'll find a still from the film, featuring Danai Gurira in character.
