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Poster for On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl

Seen it?

2024 | 99 min | Comedy, Drama

Saturday Specialearly rating

Why it’s a Saturday Special

Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes), despite soft box office. A strong pick for the weekend.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved The Sting, start here.
The mood
Funny with heart.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 39 min.
What might put you off
Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.

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.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 87 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesNot counted

    Not measured yet: not enough ratings

  • AwardsBelow par

    Won 1 Cannes award: Cannes Film Festival: Un Certain Regard – Best Director. Also nominated for 1 more Cannes award and 1 Independent Spirit Award. Plus 1 other award.

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 83K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Rungano Nyoni

  • Susan ChardyShula
  • Elizabeth ChiselaNsansa
  • Esther SinginiBupe
  • Blessings BhamjeeYoung Shula
  • Doris NaulapwaShula's Mother
  • Henry B.J. PhiriShula's Father
  • Roy ChishaUncle Fred
  • Benson MumbaJoseph
  • Chungu BwalyaFarm Club Presenter 1
  • Margaret MulubwaFarm Club Presenter 2