Sweetness in the Belly

Seems some viewers have a completely wrong impression of the story here and what it is trying to show. It depicts a very light-skinned British girl of 7 being left behind by her parents in Ethiopia, then raised by a group of Muslims. As she grew up, and studied the Koran, to her the skin color was not important. But when she as a young adult eventually is forced to leave Ethiopia for safety during the 1974 Ethiopian overthrow of dictator Haile Selassie and his government, and arrived in Great Britain, she soon found that she indeed received special treatment, compared to the native dark-skinned Ethiopians.

Add to that she had developed a relationship with an Ethiopian doctor who didn't escape when she did and a large part of the story here is her search for him and wondering if he survived.

Based on a novel, my wife and I enjoyed it at home on DVD from our public library. Good movie because it treats a subject that seems to be happening somewhere in the world at any given time, people forced to leave their country because of turmoil and lack of safety. Dakota Fanning is good in the lead role.

I almost didn't watch it because of the ridiculously low rating. It's a nice, authentic, non-hollywood movie. No CGI, or dreadfully ludicrous, unrealistic fight sequences. It felt honest and authentic, like a good indie film should be.

So? A white girl played the lead. Get over it everybody. How can it be that absolute dross gets thrown at us in spades and yet this gem practically went by unnoticed? I discovered this film by accident, and so glad I did. And then I notice nine reviews. Nine! And most of them negative. A tragedy.

I'm not Ethiopian so I can't say for sure how accurate this was, but a great story about something we hear little about. My Amharic is rusty too but Dakota seemed to be doing a bang up job. Well done to her. I would read the book it was based on.

I recently watched Sweetness in the Belly (2019) on Tubi. The plot unfolds against the backdrop of civil war in Africa during the 1970s, leading to a wave of refugees fleeing from areas surrounding Ethiopia to Europe. Among them is a refugee who, upon securing a job at a hospital, forms a deep bond with an African doctor.

Directed by Zeresenay Mehari (Difret) and featuring a talented cast including Dakota Fanning (Man on Fire), Wunmi Mosaku (Lovecraft Country), Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Aquaman), and Sophie Kennedy Clark (Sorority).

While Sweetness in the Belly possesses the necessary elements for a compelling character-driven narrative, it ultimately falls short. The performances are commendable, with Fanning, Mosaku, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II displaying excellent chemistry. The settings and overall premise offer depth and intensity, complemented by well-developed character backstories and subplots. Smart twists and turns keep the story engaging. However, the film suffers from significant lulls where it feels stagnant, failing to fully convey the desperation of the characters' circumstances. Additionally, a more impactful conclusion could have elevated the overall journey.

In conclusion, Sweetness in the Belly presents enough worthwhile elements to warrant a viewing, but it lacks the standout qualities to make it memorable. I would rate it 6/10 and suggest seeing it once for its commendable performances and intriguing premise.

Definitely worth watching!! I rate this a 7 and wonder if I rated high enough.