THE DISTANCE BETWEEN (PT I&II) - reviewer Eunice Amoka

STORY BY: REMI IBINOLA SREENPLAY BY: REMI IBINOLA AND DIONNE JEMOLA DIRECTOR: IZU OJUKWU PRODUCED BY: REMI IBINOLA AND MEMRY SAVANHU AYOTUNDE RELEASE DATE: 2008 GENRE: ABUSE, DRAMA, ROMANCE RUNNING TIME: 1hr5mins (pt1) 55mins (pt2) LANGUAGE: ENGLISH STARRING: RITA DOMINIC, KALU IKEGWU, YEMI BLAQ, MERCY JOHNSON, ASHLEY NWOSU, KASSANDRA ODITA, CHARLES WARAN AND DEBBIE IBINOLA RATING: **** SETTING: CONTEMPORARY NIGERIAN SETTING VIEWING: 18+

PLOT: The film opens with a monologue by Mosun (Mercy Johnson) which introduces the character of her friend Preye (Rita Dominic), Preye’s husband (Kalu Ikegwu) and her child.

The movie centers on the lives of two friends, Mosun and Preye that have had similar childhood experiences that affected them in two extremely contrasting ways in adulthood. Preye (Rita Dominic) had a bad childhood: her uncle Nick (Charles Waran) raped her several times and then she grew up becoming promiscuous, tied to drugs, sex and alcohol. Mosun was the only one that was able to place restraint on her. She was a flirt and at a point in time slept with Ike (Kalu Ikegwu) who also had a fiancée- April (Debbie Ibinola).

In flashbacks of her childhood, the characters of her uncle Nick, her nurse and her parents are introduced.

Mosun had a similar childhood; in her case, her father raped her continuously when her mother was away. As an adult, she became frigid (she could not respond emotionally to the opposite sex). These secrets are shared between this two friends and no other person knows about them.

Preye’s attitude affects her relationship with her fiancé (soon to be husband) Akin (Yemi Blaq). He discovers her promiscuity and before their wedding, he lures Mosun into sleeping with him and that union is consummated with the birth of a child. The paternity of the child was unknown until Preye found the birth certificate by coincidence.

When she found out, she ran away with Mosun’s child to the shack where her childhood nurse lived before her death. They traced her there and she was finally convinced to give back the child, which she did. Preye finally gets married to Ike, nothing more is heard about Akin but Mosun and Preye remain friends.

The movie ends with a Monologue by Preye that is linked to the one done by Mosun at the beginning of the film.

The movie explains the beliefs held by Africans and Psychologists that our pasts can best predict what our futures will look like. Their childhoods were abnormal and because of the traumas they suffered at childhood, they became terribly disturbed adults. The movie moves away from the normal definition of the “Nigerian movie” and explores a different idea. The movie is full of betrayals but we also see the beauty of love and forgiveness.

The choice of cast was lovely; the scenes were well set and the makeup and costume artists did a wonderful job of interpreting the roles of the characters.

The production was on an average, the dénouement (ending) did not play out well but I give the story line a thumb up. The movie promises to be a thought provoking one and is a necessary watch for everyone.

Techniques and equipments: there were close up shots, different kinds of lights were used (blue, cream, etc), the technique of flashback was used. In addition, in the various monologue scenes there was the use of an ADR (automatic dialogue replacement) machine. For fast track movements on the highway, a crane was used.

The movie is a must watch for everyone!