Dakota Fanning stars in Sweetness in the Belly, a compelling character drama based on the acclaimed novel. The story follows a young child who’s abandoned in Morocco by her parents, grows up as an orphan, and gets caught-up in the Ethiopian Civil War, and eventually flees to England where she helps other Ethiopian refugees. Fanning gives an especially strong performance and the film addresses a number of interesting issues. Additionally, the sets and costumes are well-done, giving an authentic feel for the various times and places of the film. However, the pacing can be rather slow and the plot is a little confusing at times. Yet while it has its weaknesses, Sweetness in the Belly is a thought-provoking film with some interesting things to say.

I enjoyed this. Wished for a better ending but really enjoyed seeing Dakota in a different type of film that wasn’t her normal. Her parents... smh

It's a little heavy handed at times, and some of the dialogue and narrative points are occasionally stilted. Still an interesting watch though, so it's worth giving it a go.