“Black November” is the first film that represents a successful blend of the Nollywood and Hollywood Film Industries. If you haven’t seen this film and you are an African living in North America, then you are definitely missing out as this is a must-watch flick. This long-awaited Hollywood/Nollywood flick ‘Black November’ by Jeta Amata is now showing in LA and NY Theaters, iTunes, Amazon, and is currently being seen via Video On-Demand (VOD) on all TV cables and Satellite all over the United States.
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The film surrounds the events in the life of a Nigerian activist character Ebiere Penema played by Mbong Amata, which led to a face-off with Nigerian militants that held U.S. citizens in a hostage crisis. Kudos to Jeta Amata for being able to pull Hollywood’s A-List names such as Academy Award (Oscar) Nominee Mickey Rourke, Academy Award (Oscar) Winner Kim Bassinger, Satellite Award Winner Sarah Wayne, and Music Super-superstar Akon and Wyclef in this masterpiece work ‘Black November’.
Amata who continues to receive several commendations on this great movie had Award winning musician and cast Wclef Jean post a tweet “Jeta Amata u are my favorite director right now.” Award-winning Actress Vivica A Fox also tweeted “Love working with you Jeta!! U rock n make it happen.” Also Stacy Ivers, former VP of Warner Bros and Universal congratulated Jeta Amata on his Facebook wall for making “an impact in a very difficult marketplace”.
It is also not a surprise that this is the first time every major critic in the United States including New York Times, Hollywood Report, LA Weekly, Variety etc., are fully taking their time to review and comment on a film made by a Nollywood Director. Keep in mind, that they usually don’t review every film, only those that have potentials for success.
New York Dailies critic, Elizabeth Weitzman also commended Jeta Amata, “his primary storyline is evident, and well-represented by his star’s soulful performance as an ordinary girl pushed to extraordinary bravery.”
A notable critic, Guy Lodge also wrote in the Variety, “even modest exposure for this Nigerian-American co-production may encourage more native filmmakers to try.”
It is refreshing to see Africans telling our own stories in an overly-dramatic and unapologetic way, while still using international Hollywood standards.
Simone McIntyre also tweeted, “Congratulations Jeta so wonderful to shed light on this subject with the world.”
Also worthy of mention is that never has an African female activist/ hero been created and given this platform in the Nollywood Film Industry. No African director has taken such a risk and the chances taken by Jeta certainly paid off with Mbong Amata who rose to the occasion, delivered her best in the movie and refused to allow the big names to silence her opportune moment.
Other comments that we’ve seen trending in this part of the world are shown below.
