"Bel", Louise Lockwood's new documentary, pays tribute to Beldina Odenyo, the Kenyan-Scottish musician who performed as Heir of the Cursed and died by suicide in 2021 aged 31. The film, which closed the Edinburgh International Film Festival, follows her sister Leah's effort to posthumously release Odenyo's debut album, blending celebration of her exceptional musical talent with a raw exploration of grief and the failures of mental health support systems.

Odenyo moved from Kenya to Dumfriesshire aged seven and endured racist abuse at school, later channelling that trauma, along with the deaths of her mother and sister, into music that fused jazz and folk. Her career was gathering pace on the Glasgow scene, culminating in an acclaimed performance at Usher Hall for the Scottish Album of the Year award in October 2021, just two weeks before her death. The documentary highlights how she had repeatedly sought professional help for her mental health but was let down by the healthcare system, prompting comparisons of her voice to Nina Simone and Beth Gibbons from those who knew her.