Episode #4 - One Becoming a Guinea Fowl

Directed by Zambian-Welsh filmmaker Rungano Nyoni and distributed globally by A24 and BBC Films, On Becoming a Guinea Fowl is a masterclass in tension and cultural critique.The premise is deceptively simple: our protagonist, Shula (played by Susan Chadi), is driving home at night when she spots a dead body on the street. When she discovers the body is her Uncle Fred, her reaction lays the precedent for the entire film. She exhibits absolutely no grief, no shock, and no mourning.What follows is an exploration of the traditional African funeral customs that take place when a family member passes. But beneath the veil of tradition lies a dark, horrifying truth: Uncle Fred was a serial abuser who molested or raped multiple young girls in the family. Devastatingly, the mothers and family members knew—or heavily suspected—but turned a blind eye.