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The Eyes of Ghana

Play trailer Poster for The Eyes of Ghana 2025 1h 30m Documentary Biography Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 17 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
From Oscar®-winning director Ben Proudfoot, THE EYES OF GHANA is a stunning feature documentary following 93-year-old documentarian Chris Hesse--personal cinematographer to forgotten African icon Kwame Nkrumah--as he races against blindness and time to rescue and repatriate a secret trove of over 1,300 films that captured the birth of African independence in the fifties and sixties. Yet unseen by the public, these films may not only rewrite Ghanaian and African history--but world history itself.

Critics Reviews

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Robert Daniels RogerEbert.com Oct 27
It’s one of those films whose desire to tell a little-known story grants it some slack, but whose unsteady execution quickly evaporates much of the goodwill you came into it with. Go to Full Review Christian Zilko IndieWire Oct 24
B
Hesse is infectiously charismatic, and seeing 15 minutes of his film footage digitized for the first time is a treat for history buffs. Go to Full Review Wendy Ide Screen International Oct 9
The exchange of ideas gives the film its vital energy: Hesse lectures to an appreciative audience of young Ghanaian filmmakers and encourages them to ask questions of him. Go to Full Review Andy Howell Film Threat Nov 22
7/10
The Eyes of Ghana leans heavily into the inspirational part of the story, and that’s understandable. Hesse is an inspiring figure, still fighting to preserve his country’s culture, restore film, and teach the younger generation, even in his 90s. Go to Full Review Clotilde Chinnici Loud and Clear Reviews Oct 24
3/5
Overall, The Eyes of Ghana is a very good historical lesson, but does it work as a documentary? Unfortunately, not quite as much. Go to Full Review Daniel Howat Next Best Picture Oct 23
8/10
It stands as a tribute to the power of storytelling, the influence of the moving image, and the enduring spirit of revolution in all its forms. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Cast & Crew

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Ben Proudfoot

Director

Edmund Addo

Self

Anita Afonu

Self

Chris Hesse

Self

Chris Tsui Hesse

Self

Anita Afonu

Producer
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The Eyes of Ghana

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Movie Info

Synopsis From Oscar®-winning director Ben Proudfoot, THE EYES OF GHANA is a stunning feature documentary following 93-year-old documentarian Chris Hesse--personal cinematographer to forgotten African icon Kwame Nkrumah--as he races against blindness and time to rescue and repatriate a secret trove of over 1,300 films that captured the birth of African independence in the fifties and sixties. Yet unseen by the public, these films may not only rewrite Ghanaian and African history--but world history itself.
Director
Ben Proudfoot
Producer
Anita Afonu, Moses Bwayo, Nana Adwoa Frimpong, Ethan Lewis, Vinnie Malhotra, Ben Proudfoot, Brandon Somerhalder
Production Co
Breakwater Studios, Higher Ground Productions
Genre
Documentary, Biography
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 30m