Sweetness in the Belly

Play trailer

2:03

Sweetness in the Belly

2019

1h 50m

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

40%

Tomatometer

10 Reviews

59%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

After escaping Ethiopia as a refugee, an orphan works to aid fellow immigrants by uniting them with their families.

Watch on Peacock

Stream Now

Guy Lodge

Variety

Pleasant and picturesque throughout, "Sweetness in the Belly" is most affecting as a story where everyone is an outsider in some capacity.

May 7, 2020

Full Review

Soraya Nadia McDonald

Andscape

Sweetness in the Belly has its moments of grace... But for a complicated story set during even more complicated times, Sweetness in the Belly just feels altogether too simple.

Sep 16, 2019

Full Review

Chandler Levack

Globe and Mail

This is a well-crafted, Bechdel-passing film that prioritizes an intersectional female friendship, yet Lilly remains nothing but our Trojan horse into the 1980s Ethiopian refugee crisis.

Rated: 2.5/4

Sep 8, 2019

Full Review

Todd Jorgenson

Cinemalogue

The nonlinear film is evocative and compassionate, yet struggles to modulate its disparate narrative threads.

May 29, 2020

Full Review

Joyce Slaton

Common Sense Media

Deeply felt drama about one woman's refugee experience.

Rated: 4/5

May 21, 2020

Full Review

Caleb Cotter

Film Ireland Magazine

Despite its flaws, Sweetness in the Belly stands as a solid, emotionally driven drama that covers a variety of complicated topics.

Nov 25, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Daisy S

Lilly is as wooden as a fence post. She should have been such an interesting character, given her past but she was miles beyond bland. It made me wonder how the young man who fell in love with her could ever have been attracted to someone as emotionally detached as Lilly.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

08/30/22

Full Review

Audience Member

Was ok . Was hoping better. Slow burn. Quite a story. Dakota Fanning is very good . I needed sub titles overall

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

12/24/21

Full Review

Audience Member

A masterclass in acting and breathing the role. Dakota has exceeded expectations within her portrayal as an orphaned child in Ethiopia. Absolutely brilliant work.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

Full Review

Audience Member

This was a surprisingly good movie. Good story, good acting, good pacing even educational by centering on Muslim religion.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I love it.. lots of good advices and made me see people

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Zeresenay Mehari

Director

Dakota Fanning

Lily Abdal

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II

Aziz

Wunmi Mosaku

Amina

Gavin Drea

Philip

Amerjit Deu

Mr. Jahangir

Noise

100%

71%

Noise

Watchlist

Roads

67%

84%

Roads

Watchlist

Aisha

98%

81%

Aisha

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Aisha

La leyenda negra

82%

50%

La leyenda negra

Watchlist

TRAILER

for La leyenda negra

Fig Tree

83%

%

Fig Tree

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Sweetness in the Belly: Trailer 1

2:03

View more videos

View more photos

Synopsis

After escaping Ethiopia as a refugee, an orphan works to aid fellow immigrants by uniting them with their families.

Director: Zeresenay Mehari
Producer: Jennifer Kawaja, Alan Moloney, Susan Mullen, Julia Sereny
Screenwriter: Laura Phillips
Production Co: Parallel Films, Sienna Films Inc.
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 8, 2020
Runtime: 1h 50m

Most Popular at Home Now