Watch Sweetness in the Belly

Sweetness in the Belly is a 2019 drama film directed by Zeresenay Berhane Mehari and starring Wunmi Mosaku, Rafael Goncalves, and Dakota Fanning. The film is based on a novel by Camilla Gibb and tells the story of a girl named Lilly (played by Fanning), who is orphaned in Morocco and raised by Sufi Muslims. When she is forced to leave the country during political unrest, she moves to London to start a new life.

The film is set during the 1980s and 1990s, a time of political upheaval in Ethiopia, where the story begins. The film opens with a young Lilly (played by Sophia Brown) living with her hippie parents in Morocco. When her parents are killed in a terrorist attack, Lilly is taken in by a Sufi Muslim community where she is raised as a Muslim. Years later, when she is forced to leave Morocco during a time of unrest, Lilly moves to London to start a new life.

As an adult, Lilly is portrayed by Fanning. She is heavily involved in the Ethiopian community in London and spends her days volunteering at a refugee center, helping Ethiopians who have fled the country during the Ethiopian Civil War. Mosaku plays Amina, Lilly's best friend, and Goncalves plays Aziz, a romantic interest.

The film flashes back and forth between Lilly's life in London and her past in Ethiopia. In London, Lilly struggles to find her place in a city where she feels she doesn't belong. She is haunted by memories of her life in Ethiopia, particularly her relationship with a man named Aziz. As Lilly tries to move on from that chapter of her life, she is forced to confront the past one more time when Aziz arrives in London seeking asylum.

Sweetness in the Belly is a beautifully shot film that explores themes of identity, belonging, and displacement. The film does a good job of contrasting Lilly's life in London with her past in Ethiopia. In London, Lilly is alone and isolated, estranged from the Ethiopian community she devotes herself to helping. In contrast, her life in Ethiopia was full of love, family, and community.

The film also touches on the historical and political context of Ethiopia during the 1980s and 1990s, a time of great unrest and instability in the country. The Ethiopian Civil War and subsequent famine had a profound impact on the country and its people, and the film does a good job of capturing the devastation and trauma that many Ethiopians experienced during that time.

Overall, Sweetness in the Belly is a moving and thought-provoking film that explores important themes and issues. The performances are strong, particularly Fanning's portrayal of Lilly. The film is visually stunning, and the score is haunting and beautiful. It is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

Sweetness in the Belly is a 2020 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 50 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6 and a MetaScore of 51.