’Lionheart’ Genevieve Nnaji’s Directorial Debuts on Netflix
Late 2018, Genevieve Nnaji’s directorial debut, Lionheart, became the first Netflix Original out of Nigeria. After having its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival and showing in select Nigerian cinemas, the acclaimed drama is finally available to stream on Netflix
Lionheart follows Adaeze (played by Nnaji), a competent yet perennially overlooked daughter, who is forced to work alongside her feckless uncle, Goodwill (Nkem Owoh), in order to save her father’s (Pete Edochie) ailing bus company, Lionheart.
Nigerians who were lucky enough to see Lionheart in theatres before its Netflix release had nothing but praise for Nnaji’s directorial debut, with many praising the film’s uplifting story and Pete Edochie and Nkem Owoh’s scene-stealing performances.
Since their acquisition of Lionheart, Netflix has become more interested in African film and television, with plans to order original series from the continent this year. They also acquired Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Sundance-bound directorial debut, The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind.
