On Becoming a Guinea Fowl Review: Rungano Nyoni’s Surreal Exploration of Sexual Abuse
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl, directed by Zambian-Welsh filmmaker Rungano Nyoni, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Nyoni, known for her 2017 film I Am Not a Witch, delves into a complex and surreal narrative involving family dynamics and sexual abuse.
In the film, Shula, portrayed by Susan Chardy, drives along a dark road in Zambia wearing a peculiar sci-fi outfit. She stops to examine the body of her deceased Uncle Fred, who seemingly died near a brothel. The event triggers a series of reactions from her family, particularly highlighting their collective denial and the displacement of blame onto Fred’s widow.
The film shows Shula’s futile attempts to contact her father and her mother's performative grief. Shula and her unruly cousin Nsansa, played by Elizabeth Chisela, bond over shared traumatic experiences with Uncle Fred. As they prepare for the funeral, the family’s denial and greed become evident, with accusations flying against Fred's widow and her family.
Through dream-like memories of a childhood TV show about guinea fowls, the film juxtaposes its surreal imagery with the serious subject of internalized family denial. Nyoni's film is noted for its playful approach amidst a fundamentally grave theme, blending ambiguity with purposeful storytelling.
On Becoming a Guinea Fowl was featured at the Cannes Film Festival, where its complex and indirect narrative on dealing with trauma and family myth-making garnered attention.