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.
It had its world premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival.

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

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. 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.
Principal photography began in November 2018, in Ireland. Production on the film also took place in Ethiopia.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2019. In April 2020, Gravitas Ventures acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, and set it for a May 8, 2020, release. Entertainment One will distribute in Canada.

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.

Trivia

The film received backlash for Dakota Fanning portraying the lead role in the film. 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."