Making its debut on Disney+, “Madu” is a captivating film inspired by a new type of young hero. Delving into the story of a then 12-year-old Anthony Madu, a Nigerian boy from a disadvantaged background, the film follows his challenging journey to study ballet at a prestigious school in London.
In 2020, Madu took the world by storm when a video of him dancing ballet in the rain went viral. The inspiring imagery reached celebrities like Viola Davis, who said the video reminded “her of the beauty of our people…,” adding that “despite the brutal obstacles that have been put in front of us! Our people can fly.”
Madu didn’t only inspire Davis; he also inspired award-winning documentary filmmaker and co-director of “Madu,” Kachi Benson. Speaking with theGrio, Benson noted that what is both compelling and relatable in Madu’s quest is that he is “doing something that isn’t very popular and is not accepted…but he chose to still do it.”
“He’s from a severely economically challenged part of town … I could see a lot of myself in that,” Benson shared. “[A]s a doc filmmaker based in Lagos, some of my friends thought I was crazy for trying to do this, but I chose to still do it anyway, and that really is what drew me to Anthony’s story,” he added.
In the film, Madu momentarily struggles to stay focused as demons from his past haunt him. The film strikes a precise balance in following Madu thriving at Elmhurst Ballet School and ruminating about the bullies who teased him back in Lagos for being a boy who liked ballet. In Benson’s eyes, the film is about “[Madu’s] search for acceptance and belonging in the midst of chasing this dream and pursuing his passion.”
Though inspired by Madu’s talent, Benson explained that it was equally essential to show the rawness of Madu’s struggles because, ultimately, humans are innately motivated to desire to find their “tribe” and feel connected to…
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