BY PORTER FRIFTH

Joseph A. Adesunloye’s powerful and moving film ‘WHITE COLOUR BLACK’ is set to premiere straight onto digital platforms across the US from 22nd February. Peccadillo Pictures is proud to be releasing this remarkable film via its subsidiary arm Peccadillo Panorama to tie in with Black History Month and it will be available via ITunes, Google Play and to rent and buy from Amazon Prime Video.

This sumptuously shot film follows the story of self-discovery of Leke, born to a white mother and Senegalese father. When his father dies he travels to Senegal to bury him and to re-trace his heritage, leaving behind the hedonistic life he had in London. Struggling to fit into a new culture, he learns to accept and finally find his true identity and sense of belonging. The film is loosely based on experiences of British, Nigerian born producer, writer and director Joseph A. Adesunloye.

Lead actor Dudley O’Shaughnessy was a champion boxer and award-winning model for many years and with his striking looks is perhaps best recognised as starring alongside Rihanna in the video for the No. 1 single ‘We Found Love’. Now a successful actor, he most recently also starred in the award-winning British TV series ‘Top Boy’.

Joseph A. Adesunloye shares his thoughts with The African Magazine about making the film:

“When I started to plan this film, I wanted to explore the idea of looking at the story of going back through the lens of someone being away for so long and the sense of alienation and disorientation that comes with that when one finally returns. With ‘WHITE COLOUR BLACK’ telling the story of someone with two cultures and cultural influences was very important to me.

Leke exists in a settled, patterned life. One in which his every hedonistic wants and needs are easily satisfied. Yet something about him is in flux, the routine has lost its lustre. He’s haunted by a call to engage to a part of his life back in Senegal that he has since become estranged from. I wanted to give Leke the time and space to reconcile himself to the journey.

Filming in Senegal was a remarkable process. The diversity of the country and landscapes meant we could really reflect Leke’s journey. From bustling Dakar, to the tranquility of Popenguine and the other-worldliness of Lac Rose (Pink Lake) we were able to make the landscape an integral part of our visual story-telling.”