The Girl in the Yellow Jumper

Last updated
The Girl in the Yellow Jumper
The Girl in the Yellow Jumper.jpg
Official Poster
Directed byLoukman Ali
Screenplay byLoukman Ali
Story byLoukman Ali
Produced bySuubi Elvis
Connie Ernest
Loukman Ali
Morocco Omari
Starring
CinematographyNaizi Nasser
Edited byLoukman Ali
Music byAndrew Ahuurra
Production
companies
Loukout Films
(Film Production)
Quad-A Records
(Audio Post Production)
Distributed byNinja Studios (Presents)
Victoria Films [1]
Release date
  • 18 April 2020 (2020-04-18)(Kampala)
Running time
125 minutes
CountryUganda

The Girl in the Yellow Jumper is a Ugandan mystery-thriller produced and directed by Loukman Ali. It was announced that the film would premiere in Kampala on 18 April 2020. It follows a man who escapes a hostage situation only to find himself in deeper trouble. It stars Rehema Nanfuka, Philip Luswata, Michael Wawuyo Jr., Michael Wawuyo, Oyenbot and Maurice Kirya. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Plot Summary

A man is watching a television report on the "Cigarette Butt serial Killer" when he is taken hostage by a mysterious figure wearing a yellow jumper.

Later, he is found by a highway, disheveled and wearing a yellow jumper, and is rescued by an off-duty cop, who is driving an elderly crime witness (who is implied to be connected with the Cigarette Butt Serial Killer case) to a police station back in the city. The man tells his story: he was captured and tortured by two female religious extremists for a political cartoon, but managed to escape after stealing their shotgun and killing one of his captors.

The cop does not fully believe in the story, but offers to drive the man to the police station, as he is already headed in that direction. The cop receives a call with concerning news about his girlfriend and decides to stop home, where he would meet his girlfriend's sister, before heading to the police station.

The man gets off the car and heads to the bathroom, and recognizes the cop's girlfriend's sister as the surviving kidnapper. He panics and tries to leave, but the kidnapper has also recognized him and tells the cop, saying the man has killed his girlfriend. The cop enters the bathroom and pulls out his pistol to torture the man by "kneecapping".

The man is next seen handcuffed beside the elderly witness on the backseat of the police officer's car, who is still driving towards the police station. The passenger's seat is now occupied by the kidnapper, who is telling a different version of the events: the man is a sexual predator who has impregnated a 12-year-old girl, who later died when he tried to abort her himself. The cop's girlfriend, who was a nurse at hospital where the girl died, sought out revenge with her sister's help.

The man struggles to grab the kidnapper's shotgun that he still has on his bag, but he draws the cop's attention. There's a shootout and the only survivor is the elderly witness. He stumbles out of the vehicle, flags down a passing car and kills the driver using the cop's pistol. He escapes the scene in the stolen car, leaving a cigarette butt on the ground first.

Cast

Michael Wawuyo Jr. Jim Akena
Rehema Nanfuka Dorothy
Maurice Kirya Patrick Asimwe
Michael Wawuyo Old Man
Oyenbot Vicky (as Gladys Oyenbot)
Philip LuswataProf. Mahmood Sali
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joan Ahhurra Fish Lady (voice)
Kavuma Yahaya Ali Burial Extra 1 / Old Lady
Kavumba Mustafa AliSketch Artist
Loukman Ali Bob
Muhammad AliBurial Extra 3
Saum AliOld Man's Granddaughter / Blada Extra 2
AliyahSuzan
Nayonga ChristineYoung Patrick
CleopatraRadio Presenter #1
IsaacBurial Extra 2
Dorothy KateraOld Man's Daughter / Mama Suzan
Timothy MagumbaBlada Extra 3
Andrew MakumbyBlada Extra 1
Stella NanduduFish Lady
Patrick Nkakalukanyi Pump Attendant
Morocco Omari Expert
River Dan RugajuWalusimbi Josh
Solaie TitiNews Anchor
Bash Luks Pump Attendant 2
Sekaayi TuckerLittle Person
Frank TuryatungaGuy Watching TV
Shawn WanendeyaBlada Extra 4

Production

Pre-production

Loukman Ali wrote the script earlier, since he's also a sketch artist he storyboarded all the shots at this stage. Props testing were also done since a couple of Instagram posts show an unidentified model in a gas mask, which later turned out to be in the film.

Filming

Principal Photography began in 2018 in Northern part of Uganda, and despite all the challenges that came along the shooting, Loukman and his cinematographer Naizi Nasser managed to wrap up in August 2018.

On 21 January 2019, Loukman uploaded a first look captioned as a test footage from the girl in the yellow jumper which received a bunch of positive reviews from all around the world.

The film was shot on Red Cameras. and different gear was used as seen in different behind the scene pictures, car mounts for moving car scenes, as well as cranes and gimbals.

Since this was Loukman's first feature film, filming was at sometimes put on hold due to running out of fund as he's quoted in an interview with Kampala's THE SUN

“We had every single problem that you can have on a film set,” Ali says. “Shooting in Uganda is not easy, every single location we go to, they chase us away.” and also Loukman Ali: There were times the actors went without food because we had used up all the money. We stopped filming for more than a year as we scraped together resources. The actors would return after months having changed, having gained weight, grown hair or a beard where there was only stubble in the previous scene. [6]

Post Production

The film was edited by Loukman Ali, who blended Computer Generated Imagery (CGI) created with cinema4d into his shots. [7]

The first teaser trailer released on Apr 18, 2020 which was a viral hit due to its perceived high quality, [8]

Music

Artists at Quad A, an African audio production company, worked on the sound design and film scoring headed by Andrew Ahuurra, who had previously worked on various films, including Disneys Queen of Katwe. A number of already existing Ugandan songs like Bobiwine's Bada [9] were added alongside others originally composed for the film.

Sound department of The Girl in The Yellow Jumper

Andrew Ahuurra...re-recording mixer / supervising sound editor
Tonny Timothy Kasoma...foley artist (as Tonny Kassoma)
Paul Kazibwe...dialogue editor
Lilian Keishanyu...sound effects editor
Adnan Senkumba...boom operator
Shantos Ssekito...boom operator

Release

COVID-19 pandemic and hacking

The COVID-19 pandemic reached Uganda in March 2020 and affected the premiere of the film as the country was put on lockdown. There were plans for the film to premiere on paid streaming sites, but the production company's online accounts were hacked and the film was leaked on their very YouTube channel for free streaming just days before its premiere date. [10]

It would later be discovered that Loukman Ali had uploaded a combination of trailers making up to 1 hour and 22 minutes labelled as "THE GIRL IN THE YELLOW JUMPER leaked full movie" as a prank to increase hype around the movie.

Initial release fail

The film was initially to be released locally in Ugandan theaters on 20 April 2020, but the COVID-19 Pandemic forced theaters to close down. A disappointed Loukman Ali did loose his positivity in filmmaking. [11] Later on he made a YouTube short film The blind Date followed by its prequel Sixteen Rounds .

Netflix Release

On Friday 13th, Loukman announced that his had become the first local film to be picked up by Netflix. It was made available for streaming the following Friday. Loukman stated that after the film's release getting interrupted by the outbreak, he handed it to distributors who sold the movie streaming rights to Netflix.

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResultsRefs
2022 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA)Best Feature film East Africa Mariam Ndagire (on behalf of Loukman Ali)Won [12]
2021 Realtime International Film Festival Best DirectorLoukman AliWon
2021 Mostra De Cinemas Africanos Selected

Related Research Articles

<i>Almost Human</i> (1974 film) 1974 Italian crime film by Umberto Lenzi

Almost Human is a 1974 Italian noir-poliziotteschi film directed by Umberto Lenzi. This film stars Tomas Milian, Henry Silva, Ray Lovelock and Anita Strindberg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Usama Mukwaya</span> Ugandan filmmaker

Usama "Osam" Nyanzi Mukwaya is a Ugandan screenwriter, film director, producer, actor and former television host. He has received several accolades, including nominations for an Ama Award and three Amvca Awards.

The Felistas Fable is a 2013 Ugandan film written, directed and produced by Dilman Dila. The film stars Veronica Namanda, Mike Wawuyo, Kaddzu Isaac and Mathew Nabwiso.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maurice Kirya</span> Ugandan musician and actor

Maurice Kirya born in Jinja and raised in Najjanakumbi to Tonny Munobbi and Sophie Baguma.

Michael Wawuyo Jr. is a Ugandan actor that started out as Brother John in Ugandan hit television series The Hostel on NTV. His credits include also Beneath The Lies - The Series,Yat Madit, Kyenvu, Nsiwe, Girl in the yellow jumper and most recently sixteen rounds.

<i>The Only Son</i> (2016 film) 2016 Ugandan film

The Only Son is Ugandan film written and directed by Richard Mulindwa starring Bobby Tamale, Michael Wawuyo Snr., Raymond Rushabiro, and Nisha Kalema. The film was released on 22 July 2016 at the Kampala Serena Hotel. The film was nominated in six categories at the 2016 Uganda Film Festival including Best Screenplay, Best Sound, Best Editing, Film of the Year, Best lead Actor and Best Feature Film.

Situka (A Call for Action) is a Ugandan feature film about two lovers: Amanio (Hellen Lukoma), an ambitious young woman with a passion for politics, who inspires her boyfriend Muganga (Bobi Wine), an industrious young daredevil, to stand up for justice in society.

<i>Big Time Adolescence</i> 2019 American film

Big Time Adolescence is a 2019 American coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by Jason Orley, in his directorial debut. It stars Pete Davidson, Griffin Gluck, Emily Arlook, Colson Baker, Sydney Sweeney and Jon Cryer.

<i>Beckett</i> (film) 2021 action thriller film

Beckett is a 2021 action thriller film directed by Ferdinando Cito Filomarino and produced by Luca Guadagnino. The film stars John David Washington as an American tourist vacationing in Greece who becomes the target of a manhunt after an accident embroils him in a political conspiracy, and he must reach the embassy to clear his name; Boyd Holbrook, Vicky Krieps, and Alicia Vikander also star.

<i>Chopsticks</i> (film) Indian Hindi-language comedy drama on Netflix

Chopsticks is an Indian Hindi-language comedy drama film directed by Sachin Yardi and produced by Ashvini Yardi. It stars Abhay Deol and Mithila Palkar in the lead roles. The film is a story of a woman who is referred to an enigmatic con man who agrees to help recover her stolen car from a thug for free, and how it brings about change in their lives. It was released on 31 May 2019 worldwide on Netflix.

<i>Coffee & Kareem</i> 2020 American action comedy film directed by Michael Dowse

Coffee & Kareem is a 2020 American action comedy film directed by Michael Dowse and written by Shane Mack. It stars Ed Helms, Terrence Little Gardenhigh, Betty Gilpin, RonReaco Lee, Andrew Bachelor, David Alan Grier and Taraji P. Henson, and follows a bumbling Detroit cop who must rescue his girlfriend and her 12-year-old son from gangsters after the boy witnesses a murder.

<i>Khuda Haafiz</i> 2020 Indian action film

Khuda Haafiz is a 2020 Indian Hindi-language direct-to-video action thriller film written-directed by Faruk Kabir and produced by Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak under Panorama Studios. It stars Vidyut Jammwal and Shivaleeka Oberoi in the lead roles, alongside Annu Kapoor, Aahana Kumra and Shiv Panditt in supporting roles. Set during the 2007–2008 financial crisis, the film follows Sameer Chaudhary, who races against time to rescue his kidnapped wife Nargis from flesh traders.

Michael Wawuyo Sr is a Ugandan actor and special effects artist. He is notable for his big screen roles on Last King of Scotland, Kony: Order from Above, The Only Son, Sometimes in April, The Mercy of the Jungle and small screen roles on NTV's Yat Madit and Power of Legacy.

<i>Wild Dog</i> (film) 2021 film by Ahishor Solomon

Wild Dog is a 2021 Indian Telugu-language action thriller film written and directed by debutant Ahishor Solomon. Produced by Matinee Entertainment, the film stars Nagarjuna Akkineni, Dia Mirza, Saiyami Kher, and Atul Kulkarni. The film includes many terrorist incidents in India, including the Gokul Chat bomb blast in 2007 and the capture of Yasin Bhatkal. Wild Dog released theatrically on 2 April 2021 to positive reviews.

Bullion is a 2014 Ugandan crime drama film produced by Henry Ssali and directed by Phillip Luswata. The film stars Allan Tumusiime, Kenyan actor Ainea Ojiambo, singer Juliana Kanyomozi and her sister Laura Kahunde, radio presenter and Fun Factory's Veronica Tindi, comedian Anne Kansiime, Michael Wawuyo and his son Michael Wawuyo Jr.

<i>Encounter</i> (2021 film) 2021 film

Encounter is a 2021 science fiction drama thriller film, directed by Michael Pearce from a screenplay by Pearce and Joe Barton. The film stars Riz Ahmed, Octavia Spencer, Janina Gavankar, Rory Cochrane, Lucian-River Chauhan, and Aditya Geddada.

<i>The Blind Date</i> (film) Ugandan short film

The Blind Date is a 2021 Ugandan film written and directed by Loukman Ali starring Martha Kay, Michael Wawuyo Jr. and Raymond Rushabiro. The short film marks the second collaboration between Usama Mukwaya and Loukman Ali after Kyaddala TV Series which was released in 2019. The Blind Date is the first of the numerous episodes meant to make an anthology, with the follow-up episode already in the making. The film won Best short film at the 8th Uganda Film Festival awards. It had its African premiere at the 24th Zanzibar International Film Festival.

Loukman Ali is a Ugandan cinematographer, screenwriter, film director, producer and graphic designer. His directorial debut was Monday followed up by The Bad Mexican, released in 2017.The film was nominated in various festival including the Amakula International film festival. His other major films include The Girl in the Yellow Jumper, The Blind Date and Sixteen Rounds. He is known to frequently working with actor Michael Wawuyo Jr. and filmmaker Usama Mukwaya.

<i>Sixteen Rounds</i> Ugandan short film

Sixteen Rounds is a 2021 Ugandan film written and directed by Loukman Ali starring Michael Wawuyo Jr. and Natasha Sinayobye. The short film premiered on YouTube on September 16, 2021 and marks the second installment to The Blind Date, an anthology of short films between Usama Mukwaya and Loukman Ali. The film's sound track is designed by long time collaborator, Andrew Ahuura and features songs by Keneth Mugabi and Fred Masagazi.

<i>Last Seen Alive</i> 2022 American action thriller film

Last Seen Alive is a 2022 American action thriller film directed by Brian Goodman and written by Marc Frydman. It stars Gerard Butler, who also produced the film, Jaimie Alexander and Russell Hornsby. Formerly known as Chase, the film follows a man who takes the law into his own hands in the search for his missing wife.

References

  1. "The girl in the yellow jumper (2020)". Victoria Film Distributors. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  2. Kazibwe, Kenneth. "The girl in the yellow jumper becomes first Ugandan production on Netflix". The Nile Post. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  3. Ruby, Josh. "Movie Watch: Loukman Ali's 'The Girl In The Yellow Jumper' in Cinemas this April". Mbu. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  4. Amia, Pamela. "'The Girl in the Yellow Jumper' to Hit Cinemas this April". Chimpreports. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  5. "UGANDA: Maurice Kirya Excited About 'The Girl In The Yellow Jumper' Movie Premier". Mdundo. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  6. "Loukman Ali's "The Girl in The Yellow Jumper" first Ugandan film on Netflix. What can Ugandan filmmakers learn?" . Retrieved 2021-11-26.
  7. "Loukman Ali's The Girl in the Yellow Jumper: What can fellow Ugandan filmmakers learn?". New Vision. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  8. Mugisha, Mugibson (2021-12-26). "Now Streaming: Uganda's First-Ever Film On Netflix - Loukman Ali's 'The Girl In The Yellow Jumper'. - MUGIBSON" . Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  9. Bada , retrieved 2021-11-26
  10. Ruby, Josh. "Loukman Ali's YouTube hacked, 'The Girl In The Yellow Jumper' film released". Mbu. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  11. Okanlawon, Taiwo (2021). "Netflix confirms 'The Girl in the Yellow Jumper' release date". PMNEWS. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  12. "The Girl in the Yellow Jumper wins Uganda's first Africa Movie Viewers Choice Awards in 9 Years". Pluggedaily. Retrieved 15 May 2022.