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On a Beautiful, Wonderful Day

Novitiate nun, Lisa, is set on a supernatural collision course with her destiny when she discovers a West African man who claims to have swum across the Atlantic Ocean to America.

  • Joseph Osei-Bonsu
    Director
    The Knell (2021)
  • Joseph Osei-Bonsu
    Writer
    The Knell (2021)
  • Joseph Osei-Bonsu
    Producer
    The Knell (2021)
  • Bevelyn Osei-Bonsu
    Producer
    The Knell (2021)
  • Bobbi Johnson
    Key Cast
    ""Sister" Lisa"
  • Quan D. Wiggins
    Key Cast
    "West Arican Man"
  • Catherine Jandrain
    Key Cast
    "Sister Françoise"
    The Wicked Path (2022) Walter (2019), Above The Law (2017)
  • John F. Higgins
    Key Cast
    "Pat Payne"
    Succession (2021), Forty Years From Now (2021), New Amsterdam (2020), Professor M. (2019)
  • Eric Pereira
    Assistant director
    The Family Key (2021)
  • Jack Otto
    Director of Photography
    The Knell (2021)
  • Joey West
    Assistant Camera Operator/Underwater Cinematography
    The Knell (2021)
  • Joseph Osei-Bonsu
    Editor
    The Knell (2021)
  • Sydney Richardson
    Script Supervisor
    The Family Key (2021)
  • Renee Nunez
    Audio
    The Knell (2021)
  • Amy Velez
    Audio
  • Allen Grey
    Music
    The Knell (2021), hAbel (2021), Metamorphosis (2019)
  • Sabrina Saroza
    Special Effects Makeup
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    32 minutes 37 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 24, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    6,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Ghana
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English, French
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital (Blackmagic URSA) 4K
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Seton Hall University
Director Biography - Joseph Osei-Bonsu

Joseph Osei-Bonsu's filmmaking blends dark-comedy, history, Afro-futurism, the supernatural, and fabulist elements to relate unique Afro-diasporic stories. "On a Beautiful, Wonderful Day" is Osei-Bonsu's second narrative short which comes off the back of his widely successful 2021 debut short film, "The Knell." Born and raised in Ghana, West Africa, Joseph Osei-Bonsu emigrated to the U.S. to further his writing and film education. He now resides in New Jersey where he continues to write weird stuff...or watch too much TV.

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Director Statement

I created this short as a proof-of-concept for a feature. I wanted my potential audiences to embark on the emotional journey I experienced while creating this unique story sooner rather than later.

I think it was Colston Whitehead who said that before he writes a story the thing he always considers is, “What question does this story (attempt to) answer?” I wrote this film in the summer of 2021, in a period when the debate about wearing masks and the reality of COVID had crescendoed in the U.S. The words “freedom” and “rights” were bandied around a lot. And I got to thinking: what does it mean to be free? To be precise, the question was; what is “American Freedom?”

By counterpointing these unique and original characters in such an unconventional plot, this film grapples with the concept of freedom in America in a truly special way. As a result of this, audiences can expect a film set apart from the saturated film/content space. They will experience a true storytelling gem.

Regarding the characters, consider "Sister" Lisa, for example. She’s a well-educated African American woman who feels that she has no choice but to join a convent in order to be financially emancipated. Sister Françoise is a nosy and outspoken senior nun who couldnt get any more French if you let her. But she sees everything! West African Man adds mystery and depth to the story, while Pat Payne wants you to know he was born in quartzite tub—he has no privilege.

Borrowing from my personal experiences, and anecdotes from others, I have created a beautiful, tragic, yet wonderful world which I hope to take you through in about half an hour.

Above all, "On a Beautiful, Wonderful Day" celebrates the love of two amazing people separated by four centuries of history and the Atlantic Ocean.