The Eyes of Ghana

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The Eyes of Ghana

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1h 30m

Documentary

Biography

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94%

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17 Reviews

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

From Oscar®-winning director Ben Proudfoot, THE EYES OF GHANA is a stunning feature documentary following 93-year-old documentarian Chris Hesse--personal cinematographer to forgotten African icon Kwame Nkrumah--as he races against blindness and time to rescue and repatriate a secret trove of over 1,300 films that captured the birth of African independence in the fifties and sixties. Yet unseen by the public, these films may not only rewrite Ghanaian and African history--but world history itself.

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Robert Daniels

RogerEbert.com

Oct 27, 2025

It’s one of those films whose desire to tell a little-known story grants it some slack, but whose unsteady execution quickly evaporates much of the goodwill you came into it with.

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Christian Zilko

IndieWire

Oct 24, 2025

B

Hesse is infectiously charismatic, and seeing 15 minutes of his film footage digitized for the first time is a treat for history buffs.

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Wendy Ide

Screen International

Oct 9, 2025

The exchange of ideas gives the film its vital energy: Hesse lectures to an appreciative audience of young Ghanaian filmmakers and encourages them to ask questions of him.

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Andy Howell

Film Threat

Nov 22, 2025

7/10

The Eyes of Ghana leans heavily into the inspirational part of the story, and that’s understandable. Hesse is an inspiring figure, still fighting to preserve his country’s culture, restore film, and teach the younger generation, even in his 90s.

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Clotilde Chinnici

Loud and Clear Reviews

Oct 24, 2025

3/5

Overall, The Eyes of Ghana is a very good historical lesson, but does it work as a documentary? Unfortunately, not quite as much.

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Daniel Howat

Next Best Picture

Oct 23, 2025

8/10

It stands as a tribute to the power of storytelling, the influence of the moving image, and the enduring spirit of revolution in all its forms.

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keenan

6 days ago

historical truth

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Cidra

Oct 30, 2026

A must see for anyone who loves filmmaking, loves archival work, loves Ghana, or loves storytelling.

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Ninita

Oct 30, 2026

Excellent movie!!! I hope it becomes a series!!!

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kwameK

Oct 30, 2026

excellent cinematic documentary

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Julie

Oct 30, 2026

My husband comes from Ghana and he has always talked about Kwame Nkrumah. So much insight into his life and the Pan African movement! He was a great man!

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Dawn

Oct 29, 2026

Beautiful, inspirational film that captures an almost lost part of history where freedom and right triumphed. Important film for times such as this.

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Ben Proudfoot

Director

Edmund Addo

Self

Anita Afonu

Self

Chris Hesse

Self

Chris Tsui Hesse

Self

Anita Afonu

Producer

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Synopsis

From Oscar®-winning director Ben Proudfoot, THE EYES OF GHANA is a stunning feature documentary following 93-year-old documentarian Chris Hesse--personal cinematographer to forgotten African icon Kwame Nkrumah--as he races against blindness and time to rescue and repatriate a secret trove of over 1,300 films that captured the birth of African independence in the fifties and sixties. Yet unseen by the public, these films may not only rewrite Ghanaian and African history--but world history itself.

Director: Ben Proudfoot
Producer: Anita Afonu, Moses Bwayo, Nana Adwoa Frimpong, Ethan Lewis, Vinnie Malhotra, Ben Proudfoot, Brandon Somerhalder, IShowSpeed
Distributor: IShowSpeed
Production Co: Breakwater Studios, Higher Ground Productions
Genre: Documentary, Biography
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 28, 2026, Limited
Runtime: 1h 30m

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