Afua's Diary

Afua's Diary
Directed byBen Owusu
Written byBibi Owusu Shadbolt
Produced byBibi Owusu Shadbolt
StarringCleopatra Wood,
Fabio Abraham
Release date
  • 2015 (2015)
CountryUnited Kingdom

Afua's Diary is a 2015 romantic drama-comedy, written and produced by Bibi Owusu Shadbolt and directed by Ben Owusu. It stars Cleopatra Wood and Fabio Abraham and features Kwaku Sintim-Misa, Franciska Bijou Steiner and Zion Johnson in supporting roles.[1][2]

Inspired by true life events, the movie deals with the subject of love, destiny and the effects of immigration on diaspora communities.[3][4]

Synopsis

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Afua Forson Brown is a Ghanaian Marketing Graduate going through trials and tribulations as her British student visa runs out. Her situation is made worse by the constant nagging by her boyfriend and the persistent demands from her alcoholic father in Ghana. Afua eventually falls in love with a dashing man but love only seems to complicate her situation.[3]

Cast

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  • Cleopatra Wood as Afua Forson Brown
  • Fabio Abraham as Alan Freeman
  • Kwaku Sintim-Misa as Mr. forson
  • Bijou Franciska Steiner as Carla
  • Zion Johnson as Zach
  • Alexander Arthur as Michael
  • Nataylia Roni, as Tracey
  • Louis Hyde as Robert
  • Richard Goble as Mr. Mackintosh[5]

Reception

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The film was first screened at the Odeon cinema in Greenwich,[6][7][8][9] and generally received good reviews; Lisa Turner of Brand Weekly described it as a new era of British-African cinema and commended the great chemistry between Cleopatra Wood and Kwaku Sintim-Misa.[1] Guestlist's Noelle Asiedu praised the writing, directing and editing.[10] Descantdeb, writing for the British blacklist, however did not think the film was ready for the general public yet. According to her, there were issues with sound and the dialogues did not flow naturally from the lips of some of the actors.[11]

Accolades

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After the first screening, Afua's Diary got immediate endorsement by the National Film Awards,[12] and was nominated for Screen Nation Film and Television Awards in February 2015.[13] The film has also been selected for inclusion in the Pan African film festival in Cannes.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b Turner, Lisa (2014-12-08). "New Era for British African Cinema has arrived!!". Brandweekly.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2015-03-10. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  2. ^ "Afua's Diary". M.afrinolly.com. 2014-12-05. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  3. ^ a b "Afua's Diary brings African cinema to the mainstream | The Latest - Citizen Journalism for All". The-latest.com. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  4. ^ Kwakye, Hephzie (2014-01-22). "Afua's Diary: A Pixelex Aspects Love Story Opens In The UK This Summer". Modernghana.com. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  5. ^ "Afua's Diary". Kushfilms.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  6. ^ Matthew Stafford. "Premiere Review: Afuas Diary". Nationalfilmawards.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  7. ^ "AFUA'S DIARY Movie London Premiere Night!". Africandazzle.com. 2014-12-06. Archived from the original on 2015-05-18. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  8. ^ "Stars rock at Afua's Diary Premiere | Naija Living". Naijalivinguk.com. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  9. ^ "Afua's Diary Film Premiere, Greenwich, UK | The Latest - Citizen Journalism for All". The-latest.com. 2014-12-05. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  10. ^ "London Premiere Of Afua's Diary / Movie Review". Guestlist.net. 2014-12-09. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  11. ^ "@DescantDeb Reviews 'Afua's Diary' After Premiere Screening". Thebritishblacklist.com. 2015-05-04. Archived from the original on 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  12. ^ Matthew Stafford. "Premiere Review: Afuas Diary". Nationalfilmawards.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  13. ^ Rosser, Michael (2015-02-18). "Selma, Belle scoop Screen Nation awards | News | Screen". Screendaily.com. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
  14. ^ Ellerson, Beti (2015-04-23). "AFRICAN WOMEN IN CINEMA BLOG: The International Pan African Film Festival at Cannes | Le Festival International du Film Panafricain à Cannes 2015". Africanwomenincinema.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 2015-05-09.
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