On Becoming a Guinea Fowl – sporadic surrealism spoils this analysis of gaslighting, victim shaming and abuse cover-up (Queen’s Film Theatre from Friday 6 December)

When Shula discovers her uncle’s dead body in the middle of the road, his Zambian family gather to mourn the loss of a man who was seen as a father figure to many. Close relatives of a similar age begin to share with Shula about their less than positive experiences with Uncle Fred. Soon Shula soon realises that a clutch of Aunties have long been aware of his predatory behaviour and sexual abuse. But they swept the sin under the carpet and are now preparing to bury the sinner without confronting the demon who was in their midst.

While billed as a black comedy and a film with absurdist tendencies, Rungano Nyoni On Becoming a Guinea Fowl doesn’t fully commit to either genre. Shula is interrupted by ‘ghostly’ apparitions – a spot of magic realism perhaps – and the recurring flooding does suggest that much tea is being spilt. Yet, the lens through which we watch a woman come to terms with the actions of her uncle and her wider family’s inaction is mostly dark with little light.

“Don’t worry, he’s dead now, it’s okay” says one victim. “It’s not important, he’s dead” suggests his brother. The aunties sing about how they love their children in a moment of musical gaslighting and emotional abuse. Familiar stuff in so many contexts at home and around the world.

Without going into the full details, having exposed Uncle Fred as a serial abuser, the final scene explores how his family victim shame his wife, seek to financially penalise her, and add much further insult to injury. (That’s after insisting that some mourners pee outside and sleep in an empty outdoor swimming pool.)

Then Shula appears over the horizon with further evidence of who the focus needs to be on and who will need the family’s support. But the film unfortunately concludes without allowing us to see whether Shula will have the backbone to challenge her aunties and reset the power imbalance.

On Becoming a Guinea Fowl was disappointing. Important universal and cultural issues are raised. But the narrative framework is very baggy, and the stylised surrealist elements of the storytelling seemed too sporadic. The film is being screened in Queen’s Film Theatre from Friday 6 December.

 

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