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On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

Play trailer 2:04 Poster for On Becoming a Guinea Fowl PG-13 Released Mar 7 1h 35m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 89 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
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.
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On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

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Critics Consensus

A vibrant exploration of family and social mores, On Becoming a Guineau Fowl marks another superb effort from writer-director Rungano Nyoni.

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Critics Reviews

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Claudia Puig FilmWeek (LAist) It feels so specific and also universal, which are my favorite kinds of movies. May 9, 2025 Full Review Dwight Brown DwightBrownInk.com Gets more thoughtful and empowering by the minute. A modern fable. A fable that’s a treasure. Rated: 3.5/4 Apr 20, 2025 Full Review Bill Goodykoontz Arizona Republic The film is beautifully shot, with cinematographer David Gallego composing some images that are beautifully impressionistic and some that are coldly realistic. The entire film takes on a dream-like quality. Rated: 4.5/5 Mar 20, 2025 Full Review Filipe Freitas Always Good Movies Its ethos hits hard, and Nyoni deserves high praise for tackling such a difficult subject with discernment and sensitivity. Rated: 4/5 May 12, 2025 Full Review Sean P. Means The Movie Cricket Nyoni steeps “On Becoming a Guinea Fowl” in bits of Zambian culture that become an anthropological lesson for outsiders. Just below the surface, though, is a deeper, universal truth about generational trauma and the courage it takes to challenge it. Rated: 3.5/4 May 10, 2025 Full Review Amber Wilkinson Eye for Film Nyoni expertly controls her narrative so that it glides effortlessly between the reality of the funeral preparations to the more surreal psychological trauma Shula is working through. Rated: 4/5 May 6, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Roman Damn, ow, fantastic but ooooowwwww. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/25 Full Review Christy L Compelling story about death and cultural rituals in an entirely different setting. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/27/25 Full Review Roy J The sexual assault plot is hard-hitting, but I also found the Zambia culture depicted in the movie to be very compelling. Glad A24 distributed this African movie in the US. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/11/25 Full Review Tyler G Beautiful cinematography, great acting, and provides an interesting look into the death traditions of another culture. However, it is really, really dull. The movie plods along. For a film with "comedy" included in its genre, I didn't so much as sharply exhale through the nose. I really do not get the hype around this movie. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 05/15/25 Full Review Sandy F Authentic, brilliant----a must see. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/04/25 Full Review Audience Member Watching On Becoming a Guinea Fowl was like being invited into a crescendoing howl—a piercing yet exquisite cry against silence. This African masterpiece isn't just cinema; it's visceral poetry, a simple yet devastating revelation of cultural truth woven masterfully through layers of absurdity, humor, and raw vulnerability. What makes this film an astonishing experience isn't merely its narrative prowess, but its masterful handling of perspective. Through multiple viewpoints, the movie gradually funnels you toward a singular, unavoidable truth—one that resonates with startling logic and profound empathy. Each frame pulses with authenticity, pulling us into a world where women grapple against the suffocating grip of a male-dominated society. The brilliance lies in its restraint: every moment you anticipate relief or resolution, the film gently yet ruthlessly reminds you of the relentless logic imposed by tradition, one that's skewed, oppressive, and heartbreakingly entrenched. It underscores the tragedy of generational silence, where women's voices are systematically muted by the old guard's relentless grip on power. Yet, amid its profound critique, the film manages to dance gracefully between laughter, reflection, and tears—achieving that rare trifecta that elevates storytelling to something transcendent. The humor isn't trivial but essential, illuminating absurdities that sharpen the film’s incisive social commentary. Ultimately, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is more than a film; it is a scream—loud, unapologetic, necessary. It captures the raw, primal feeling of powerlessness transformed into a battle cry, a declaration that sometimes, shouting into the void is the sharpest blade one possesses. A stunning, emotional journey that's as enlightening as it is entertaining, this film is nothing short of a revelation. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/01/25 Full Review Read all reviews
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

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Movie Info

Synopsis 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.
Director
Rungano Nyoni
Producer
Ed Guiney, Andrew Lowe, Tim Cole
Screenwriter
Rungano Nyoni
Distributor
A24
Production Co
A24, BBC Film, Element Pictures
Rating
PG-13 (Thematic Material|Sexual Abuse|Suggestive References|Some Drug Use)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 7, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 8, 2025
Runtime
1h 35m
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