A young Zambian woman comes across the dead body of her uncle. As she and her family prepare for and have a funeral intended to honor him, some terrible secrets are revealed. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is a genuinely fascinating and powerful film dealing with abuse and the resulting trauma. It also attempts to include some humor in how the family responds to the death of such a problematic relative. While I found the uncle’s more dramatic and horrible revelations riveting and compelling, I also feel that the drastic tonal shift from comedy to drama is somewhat awkward.
The film focuses on a Zambian family who lives in a small village. After attending a costume party, Shula (Susan Chardy) drives home and, on her way, comes across the dead body of her uncle. Some of the things that follow play out like a comedy of errors and circumstances. However, as the elders in the family wish to honor the uncle’s memory, some of the younger women in the family have very different and troubling memories of him repressed for some time.
I don’t wish to spoil too much about the deeper meaning of this film. So, for that reason, I will refrain from explaining the movie’s title and how it applies to this story. For the most part, I was taken aback by the more disturbing elements of this film’s backstory. At best, this movie presents relevant messages within a different cultural setting. At worst, the more humorous aspects of the storytelling have no place here. The blend of comedy and drama just didn’t work for me. However, the more significant message outshines the filmmakers’ missteps.
Overall, I appreciate what this movie attempts to accomplish, and I moderately recommend it for its more powerful moments. In Austin, Texas, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl opens this weekend at the AFS Cinema. It is a fascinating film that cinephiles should check out.