Aloe Vera (film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Anny Araba Adams
Isaac A. Mensah
Peter Sedufia
| AloeVera | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Peter Sedufia |
| Produced by | Manaa Abdallah Anny Araba Adams |
| Cinematography | Richard Kelly Doe Isaac A. Mensah |
| Edited by | Afra Marley Peter Sedufia |
| Music by | Reynolds Addow (Worlasi) |
Release date |
|
| Country | Ghana |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $150,000 |
| Box office | $240,000 |
Aloe Vera is a 2020 Ghanaian film produced by Manaa Abdallah and Anny Araba Adams as co-producers and directed and written by Peter Sedufia.[1][2][3][4]
Two groups of people live in the same village, the Aloes and the Veras. There is a harsh rivalry between them that endures even with the children, and each side is marked by their own trademark color. When the children of the town leaders, Aloewin and Veraline, fall in love, they must find a way to bring the two communities together despite the animosity. The community later becomes one as a result of the relationship between the two.[5] In a land where the people have divided themselves because of a disagreement long ago, a man and woman from the different sides fall in love. Despite the efforts of their families to keep them apart, they eventually become the reason the community becomes one again.
Cast
- Aaron Adatsi as Aloewin
- Ngozi Viola Adikwu as Verari
- Benjamin Adaletey as Paa Vera
- Kofi Adjorlolo as Papa Aloe
- Ben Affat as Aloeway
- Eric Agyemfra as Vera Man 1
- Kobina Amissah-Sam as Father
- Rhoda Okobea Ampene as Vera Woman 1
- Fred Nii Amugi as Mr. Aloemele
- Adjetey Anang as Aloedin
- Akofa Edjeani Asiedu as Mama Aloe
- Edinam Atatsi as Midwife
- Mawuko Awumah as Mr. Aloegede
- Alexandra Ayirebi-Acquah as Veraline
- Grace Omaboe
- Nana Ama Mcbrown as Maa Vera
- Peter Ritchie as Vera Man 2
- Priscilla Opoku Agyemang as Aloemaria
- Fiifi Coleman
- Gloria Safo as Verani
- Roselyn Ngissah as Aloemay
- Beverly Afaglo as Mother
- Naa Ashorkor as Veranda
- Solomon Fixon Owoo as Aloekay
- Adamu Zaaki as Aloebay
Production
The film's title was announced in 2019, alongside an announcement that director Peter Sedufia was constructing 100 homes in order to create a village for filming in the Dabala, Volta region of Ghana. Actors Priscilla Opoku Agyemang, Nana Ama Mcbrown, and Roselyn Ngissah were also named as performing in the movie.[6] Worlasi was brought on to provide the film's soundtrack.[7] Peter Sedufia has described the movie as an "upgrade of his previous project, and it is designed to give people something worth their money and time."[8] For this reason, its production was not a hasty one. Sedufia extended the film's post-production reach beyond Ghana. Ghanaian editing was followed by sound treatment in Germany and final refinements in France. He emphasized that European sound facilities outmatched local options.[9]
Peter Sedufia did not only direct the film; he personally financed and built a complete film village in Dabala, Volta Region, to serve as a permanent production resource. His vision was that the set could either support fellow filmmakers in the region or be handed over to Dabala's residents as a community resource.[10][11] Aloe Vera had a budget of approximately $150,000 but went over budget due to extended filming dates after heavy rains damaged filming equipment.[12] According to Peter Sedufia, he spent $235,000.[11] He attributed financing to contributions from South Africa, France’s Canal+, Ghanaian investors, and his own funds.[13] The rains also caused severe damage to the film set, which Sedufia described as a major challenge during production.[14]
Release
Aloe Vera premiered in Ghana on March 6, 2020, in Accra.[15] A trailer was released to promote the film, and Glitz Africa wrote that "enveloped with a stellar cast as well as opted blue and yellow costumes that give viewers a fair understanding of the storyline governing the film, ‘Aloe Vera’ reveals a situation of tribal discrimination causing two young adults drowned in the rivers of love not to be together."[16] Tickets for the premiere sold out quickly, and GhanaWeb has credited the film's social media campaign for its success with moviegoers.[17][15]
The film eventually streamed on Netflix starting August 5, 2022.[18]