Ghana’s 2020 Oscars submission Azali is coming to Netflix. The Kwabena Gyansah film tells the story of 14-year-old Amina, who flees an arranged marriage with a 70-year-old farmer only to end up a victim of human traffickers, but somehow escapes to Accra. She must decide between surviving Ghana’s bustling capital and returning home to an arranged marriage.
Azali stars debutant Asana Alhassan as Amina; other cast members include Adjetey Anang (The Gold Coast Lounge), Ama K. Abebrese (The Burial of Kojo), Peter Ritchie, Akofa Edjeani Asiedu and Emmanuel Nii Adom Quaye. It is written by Gwandellen Quartey.
Sent away to evade an arranged marriage, a 14-year-old begins a harrowing journey of sex work and poverty in the slums of Accra.
The film made history last year when it became the first Ghanaian film to be submitted to the Oscars for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category. However, it was not selected. The Academy picked Bong Joon Ho’s terrific class-war drama-thriller Parasite alongside Pain and Glory, Honeyland, Corpus Christiarranged and Les Miserables.
Azali comes to Netflix on February 7, 2020. Watch the trailer below.