Sweetness in the Belly
Sweetness in the Belly is a 2019 drama film directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari, based on the novel of the same name by Camilla Gibb.
Sweetness in the Belly | |
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Directed by | Zeresenay Berhane Mehari |
Produced by | Jennifer Kawaja Alan Moloney Susan Mullen Julia Sereny |
Written by | Laura Phillips |
Based on | Sweetness in the Belly by Camilla Gibb |
Starring | Dakota Fanning Wunmi Mosaku Kunal Nayyar Yahya Abdul-Mateen II |
Music by | Todor Kobakov |
Cinematography | Tim Fleming |
Edited by | Susan Maggi |
Production company |
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Distributed by | Entertainment One |
Release date |
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Running time | 110 minutes[1] |
Country | Ireland Canada United Kingdom |
Language | English |
It had its world premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.[2]
Premise
A British orphan in Ethiopia spins escapes as a refugee to England, where upon growing up she works to aid fellow immigrants and refugees in reuniting with their families.
Cast
- Dakota Fanning as Lilly Abdal
- Wunmi Mosaku as Amina
- Kunal Nayyar as Dr. Robin Sathi
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Aziz Abdul Nasser
- Estad Tewfik Yusuf Mohamed as The Great Abdel
- Edelework Tassew as Gishta
- Zeritu Kebede as Nouria
- Yafet Henock as Mersha
- Rafael Goncalves as Ahmed
- Molly McCann as Lilly Mitchell 7 yrs
- Gavin Drea as Phillip
Production
In January 2017, it was announced Saoirse Ronan had joined the cast of the film, with Zeresenay Berhane Mehari directing from a screenplay by Laura Phillips, based upon the novel of the same name by Camilla Gibb.[3] In November 2018, it was announced Dakota Fanning, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wunmi Mosaku and Kunal Nayyar joined the cast of the film, with Fanning replacing Ronan.[4][5]
Principal photography began in November 2018, in Ireland.[6] Production on the film also took place in Ethiopia.[7]
Release
The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2019.[8] In April 2020, Gravitas Ventures acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, and set it for a May 8, 2020, release.[9] Entertainment One will distribute in Canada.[10]
Reception
Sweetness in the Belly holds a 29% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 7 reviews, with a weighted average of 6.08/10.[11]
Trivia
The film received backlash for Dakota Fanning portraying the lead role in the film.[12] Amid the whitewashing allegations, Fanning took to social media to share more details about her character. "Just to clarify. In the new film I'm part of, Sweetness in the Belly, I do not play an Ethiopian woman," the 25-year-old actress wrote in a message on her Instagram Story. "I play a British woman abandoned by her parents at seven years old in Africa and raised Muslim."[13]
References
- "Sweetness in the Belly". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- "Sweetness in the Belly, Pompei land TIFF debuts". Playback, August 8, 2019.
- Barraclough, Leo (January 31, 2017). "Saoirse Ronan to Star in Romantic Drama 'Sweetness in the Belly'". Variety. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
- Roxborough, Scott (November 2, 2018). "AFM: Dakota Fanning Joins 'Sweetness in the Belly'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
- Day-Ramos, Dino (November 2, 2018). "Yahya Abdul-Mateen II Joins Dakota Fanning In 'Sweetness In The Belly' Adaptation". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 2, 2018.
- O'Grady, Sean (November 8, 2018). "Dakota Fanning spotted shooting Sweetness in the Belly in Dublin". The Independent. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- Nemiroff, Perri (September 20, 2019). "'Sweetness in the Belly' Cast & Director on the Importance of Filming in Ethiopia". Collider. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- Kay, Jeremy (August 8, 2019). "Toronto unveils Midnight Madness, Discovery, TIFF Docs, Cinematheque". Screen International. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
- Grater, Tom (April 17, 2020). "Dakota Fanning Drama 'Sweetness In The Belly' Lands At Gravitas Ventures". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- Barraclough, Leo (February 6, 2019). "First Look at 'Sweetness in the Belly,' Starring Dakota Fanning (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- "Sweetness in the Belly (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- Obenson, Tambay (September 7, 2019). "'Sweetness in the Belly' Producers, Filmmaker Address Controversy Over Dakota Fanning Refugee Drama". IndieWire. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- Jones, Marcus (September 5, 2019). "Dakota Fanning defends her new film in which she plays a British orphan raised Muslim in Ethiopia". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 25, 2020.