FILM REVIEW: The Funeral of Kwadae [2025]

There’s a very Ghanaian saying that goes, “Abusua dɔ funu,” which translates as “family loves the corpse.” Writer and director Nana Obiri Yeboah taps into this harsh reality in his latest feature film, The Funeral of Kwadae. It’s a laid-back but deeply meaningful mockumentary-styled drama about one man’s desperate and outrageous act to finally be appreciated and supported by his own family.

Set in the fictional town of Nipa Hia Mmoa, we meet Kwadae (played by Brian Angels), a struggling boutique owner who finds himself drowning in debt, particularly after his shop is wiped out by a burglary. With nothing left and facing eviction, Kwadae hatches a risky plan with his two closest friends, Joe Pee (Solomon Fixon-Owoo Jr.) and Kay (Kobina Amissah-Sam): he decides to fake his own death.

The hope is that his wealthy Uncle, Mr. Bonsam (David McKenzie), will organize a lavish funeral, allowing Kwadae to abscond with the donations and proceeds to start life afresh. The opening funeral scene, featuring Uncle Bonsam’s generous donation, perfectly foreshadows the film’s central theme—forcing us to wonder if the gesture is about love or merely a typical, needless show of wealth.

Narratively, the film flows smoothly, adopting a classic Quentin Tarantino style by being creatively divided into five main chapters detailing the lead-up to the staged funeral, and a final chapter covering the aftermath. Kwadae serves as the constant narrator throughout the film, using a personal and candid tone that reinforces the mockumentary approach and helps us connect deeply with his struggles.

The Supporting Cast and Subplots

The support Kwadae receives from his two loyal friends, Kay and Joe Pee, is truly admirable, highlighting the importance of having reliable friends in trying times. We also get the arrival of Afi (Adomaa), a beautiful nurse who moves into Kwadae’s compound. While their budding romance is not explored in depth, Afi brings a sense of calm, grounding, and even purpose to Kwadae’s otherwise chaotic existence.

Overall View

As a drama, The Funeral of Kwadae manages to surprise us with genuine moments of humour. However, we couldn’t help but notice some missed opportunities to tap into certain Ga cultural nuances and stereotypes, which would have added some more relatable humour for the Ghanaian audience. But again, this might have been a conscious effort to stay within the walls of the fictional world created for the narrative.

This movie is more than just a film—it is a bold cinematic statement and a powerful reflection on family obligation and societal values. We recommend watching it to experience the compelling story and the fantastic makeup work on the “corpse.”

The movie will be showing at Silverbird Accra Mall, West Hills Mall, and Golden Eagle.