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Reviews
Akoni (2021)
A love story with incredibly powerful messages
AKONI is the story of the titular Nigerian refugee (played by British-born Nigerian actor Kit Esuruoso), who has difficulty assimilating in Australia after escaping Boko Haram. When he meets Violet (played by Genna Chanelle Hayes), his plight offers a contrasting point of view to the party girl.
The film also stars Nigerian actress Jemima Osunde and Australian actors Mark Coles Smith, Pippa Grandison and Simon Elrahi.
For her first feature, Genna Chanelle Hayes delivers a powerful, narrative-driven film. Kit Esuruoso is superb in the lead role, and it is often the silence he delivers that fills the screen and the audience with intense emotion.
Dealing with subjects of homelessness, loneliness and grief, Genna's passion to not only raise awareness, but to take action to make change in our world is evident in her storytelling.
This incredible story, although fictional, is an extremely moving and at times heartbreaking insight of displaced refugees coming to Australia and is a must see.