Hamile on AllMovie

Hamile is a filmed record of the University of Ghana's production of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Kofi Middleton-Mends plays Hamile, aka Hamlet -- not the Melancholy Dane but the Melancholy Tongan, for the action has been relocated to Tongo. In case there's any confusion, however, here's a little guide: "Ibrahim"is really Polonius, "Karim" is Horatio, "Laitu" in Laertes, "Habiba" is Ophelia, and "Adbuli" is both Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Other than the novelty of locale and personnel, the production adheres closely to the bard's original text. Hamile makes up in conviction and energy what it lacks in professional polish.