ACT OF FAITH

TITLE: Act of Faith 1&2
DIRECTOR: Ikenna Emma. Aniekwe (d.g.n)
PRODUCER: Charles Offor
DATE OF RELEASE: 2008
CAST: Mercy Johnson, Mike Ezuruonye, Halima Abubakar, Patience Ozokwor, Ify Afuba, Ifeanyi Azodo, Chizzy Okiche.
REVIEWER: APAPA YETUNDE



A couple, Uche the pastor and Lesley the pastor’s husband are not able to bear children, and Uche is hounded by the Lesley’s mother for “refusing to produce grandchildren. One day armed robbers break into the home and Uche is raped. While at the hospital she is mute and not responding to anyone so the doctors suggest moving her to a psychiatric ward. Her mother is distraught and begs her to “pray herself out” of the situation. Even in the psychiatric ward the psychotherapist played by Halima whips out the bible when she is perturbed by the patient howling at her. She is then sent out of leslies house, and for she then gets destabilized. She then gets Uche’s mother to read bible verses to her until she calms down. In the end the baby turns out to be leslie,s and NOT the armed robber’s. We find this out when it is revealed that the baby has the same birthmark that David, his mother and all family members on that side of the family have. She is convinced that he will be convinced the baby is his and presents the baby to him. He is not willing to listen to anything she has to say and turns her away from the compound. Up until the doctor comes in and explains everything to him. The couple reunite back together and become one.
We pray, we fast, we believe, WE’RE CHRISTIANS, but when temptations come, then we know the true genuine christains. One stands, the other revert and does do real bad That’s the theme that runs through the movie, Act of Faith.
The film, Act of Faith, directed by Ikenna is one that typical exemplifies some struggles which Christian marriages go through. It is a film based on Christian practices that shows instance of intense test of faith. It takes the viewers in-depth knowledge of how to stand the test of time with faith and hope as one’s weapons as Christians.
Unlike other movies, this movie is unique with new context that viewers can be interested in because it sheds a whole new light and is based on a story line that is way different from the normal trend Nigerian films take which is either based on love or witchcraft, an epitome of lack of expertise always accredited to Nigerian films based on lack of relevant names which mostly come in something expressed with love: love is blind? Could this be love?, A kiss from love, unconditional love, for better or for worse and so on.
Most Nigerian movie titles, since the 80’s, are always displayed with low graphic design and atrocious application of colours. Surprisingly, even this film, which happens to be birthed in the new millennium century, fell victim of such application. The movie title design used was not even one shift away from the former trend which makes it unattractive even from the start of the movie.
The story revolves around the lives of Uche (Mercy Johnson) and Chidebelu/ Leslie (Mike Ezuronye) living as husband and wife. There were both Christians, with the wife as a pastor and the husband, a business man. The story revolves around circumstance that they faced, circumstance that really tested that faith and believes in God in very tactical and frustrating ways. From inability to give birth to rape, dejection, frustration and wickedness.
Flashback s a narrative technique was not really employed, except once when the husband on knowing the DNA results, thought of all the humiliation he put his wife through.
In production and photography, a satisfactory number of camera shots and angles were employed based on the standard of Nigerian movies
In the use of transitions, varieties were not adopted as fade-in and fadeout was predominantly used. The sound effects were appalling as underground noise was not filtered out.
In the story line also, some part of the scene tend to unrealistic. For instance, the scene where Uche and Chidebelu entered the house on getting back from the hospital, the T.V was on. From the onset, they didn’t have a maid, so the audience is left in practical oblivion of who actually switched the T.V on. Also, Uche, all through the movie was referred to as Pastor (Mrs), but we never so her church, not even to mention the congregation; references were only made that she was at church either doing this, or that. Furthermore, the Delivery scene was drastically unrealistic because the mother on request, just entered A THEATRE ROOM without any costume or facial mask and the flair of unnecessary emotion by Chidebelu was literarily uncalled for in the script.
Nevertheless, the film is an enjoyable one as suspense is used to sustain the attention of viewers who want to know the outcome. Although some defects are evident in the movie; they do not disrupt the theme of the movie which is quite sophisticated but still understandable and applicable.

APAPA YETUNDE 07BE05496
 

ACT OF FAITH

TITLE: Act of Faith 1&2
DIRECTOR: Ikenna Emma. Aniekwe (d.g.n)
PRODUCER: Charles Offor
DATE OF RELEASE: 2008
CAST: Mercy Johnson, Mike Ezuruonye, Halima Abubakar, Patience Ozokwor, Ify Afuba, Ifeanyi Azodo, Chizzy Okiche.
REVIEWER: APAPA YETUNDE



A couple, Uche the pastor and Lesley the pastor’s husband are not able to bear children, and Uche is hounded by the Lesley’s mother for “refusing to produce grandchildren. One day armed robbers break into the home and Uche is raped. While at the hospital she is mute and not responding to anyone so the doctors suggest moving her to a psychiatric ward. Her mother is distraught and begs her to “pray herself out” of the situation. Even in the psychiatric ward the psychotherapist played by Halima whips out the bible when she is perturbed by the patient howling at her. She is then sent out of leslies house, and for she then gets destabilized. She then gets Uche’s mother to read bible verses to her until she calms down. In the end the baby turns out to be leslie,s and NOT the armed robber’s. We find this out when it is revealed that the baby has the same birthmark that David, his mother and all family members on that side of the family have. She is convinced that he will be convinced the baby is his and presents the baby to him. He is not willing to listen to anything she has to say and turns her away from the compound. Up until the doctor comes in and explains everything to him. The couple reunite back together and become one.
We pray, we fast, we believe, WE’RE CHRISTIANS, but when temptations come, then we know the true genuine christains. One stands, the other revert and does do real bad That’s the theme that runs through the movie, Act of Faith.
The film, Act of Faith, directed by Ikenna is one that typical exemplifies some struggles which Christian marriages go through. It is a film based on Christian practices that shows instance of intense test of faith. It takes the viewers in-depth knowledge of how to stand the test of time with faith and hope as one’s weapons as Christians.
Unlike other movies, this movie is unique with new context that viewers can be interested in because it sheds a whole new light and is based on a story line that is way different from the normal trend Nigerian films take which is either based on love or witchcraft, an epitome of lack of expertise always accredited to Nigerian films based on lack of relevant names which mostly come in something expressed with love: love is blind? Could this be love?, A kiss from love, unconditional love, for better or for worse and so on.
Most Nigerian movie titles, since the 80’s, are always displayed with low graphic design and atrocious application of colours. Surprisingly, even this film, which happens to be birthed in the new millennium century, fell victim of such application. The movie title design used was not even one shift away from the former trend which makes it unattractive even from the start of the movie.
The story revolves around the lives of Uche (Mercy Johnson) and Chidebelu/ Leslie (Mike Ezuronye) living as husband and wife. There were both Christians, with the wife as a pastor and the husband, a business man. The story revolves around circumstance that they faced, circumstance that really tested that faith and believes in God in very tactical and frustrating ways. From inability to give birth to rape, dejection, frustration and wickedness.
Flashback s a narrative technique was not really employed, except once when the husband on knowing the DNA results, thought of all the humiliation he put his wife through.
In production and photography, a satisfactory number of camera shots and angles were employed based on the standard of Nigerian movies
In the use of transitions, varieties were not adopted as fade-in and fadeout was predominantly used. The sound effects were appalling as underground noise was not filtered out.
In the story line also, some part of the scene tend to unrealistic. For instance, the scene where Uche and Chidebelu entered the house on getting back from the hospital, the T.V was on. From the onset, they didn’t have a maid, so the audience is left in practical oblivion of who actually switched the T.V on. Also, Uche, all through the movie was referred to as Pastor (Mrs), but we never so her church, not even to mention the congregation; references were only made that she was at church either doing this, or that. Furthermore, the Delivery scene was drastically unrealistic because the mother on request, just entered A THEATRE ROOM without any costume or facial mask and the flair of unnecessary emotion by Chidebelu was literarily uncalled for in the script.
Nevertheless, the film is an enjoyable one as suspense is used to sustain the attention of viewers who want to know the outcome. Although some defects are evident in the movie; they do not disrupt the theme of the movie which is quite sophisticated but still understandable and applicable.

BY APAPA YETUNDE 07BE05496
 

movie review by Abisola Smith
09be08994.
Omije Kikoro
Executive Producer-Evom world network
Producer- shola mike Agboola
Story writer- Shola mike Agboola
Screen play- Ireti Akinwummi
Make up and costume- Treasure Oyekanmi
Segun Akosile
Tosin Oluwarinu
Camera crew- Framework Film & TV
Lincoln Studios
Starring
Akowe fisayo Olorunsola
Iya lanleedi Florence Afolabi
Adan Jonathan Oyewusi
Agemo Gbenga Adekeye
Fadeke Nike Kolade
Dapo Seyi Adeniyi
Themes
Bitterness
Sorrow
Evil/ wickedness
Strength
Movie rating-(4) 1to 10
Location – Ilorin (Nigeria)
The movie Omije kikoro meaning bitter tears is a Yoruba movie which is subtitled in English that depicts the everyday happenings in the realm of the occult. How they gather and plan to capture, destroy and torment the lives of men who chose to lower their guards, or live carelessly.
After the death of Arogidigba, the chief herbalist of Edokinkin town, a battle of supremacy ensues between Agemo and Adan, the two remaining senior herbalists- with each of the claiming a right to the vacant office. The two begin to fight and the case is taken to the kabiyesi for advice, who then refers them to the stand by oracle.
The more heartless of the two is tipped to take over as the Arogidigba. While Adan consults familiar spirits for help, Agemo approaches Ajiun, the head of witches to get assistance.
A fierce battle ensues, leaving behind a tale of bitter tears. Fadeke an easy going Christian lady and Akowe a no-nonsense unbeliever get caught in the cross fire between the warring herbalists.
The people of the occult try everything to deviate Fadeke from her Faith but she would not bulge, so they device a plan to have her fornicate with her fiancé Dapo by blowing winds of carelessness into their relationship. Shortly after this the counseling pastor gets revelations about their union and confronts them, but they deny any act of iniquity, which rolls out the carpet of calamity for them, and causes fadeke to weep bitter uncontrollable tears.
Akowe is fed with bean cake (akara) in a dream at night but as a result of his lackadaisical attitude towards things he disregards the incidence as just a dream and unknown to him by the eating of the bean cake he had been inflicted with a painful incurable illness that will cause tears to follow from his eyes daily.
_____________________
This movie is a teaching tool that depicts the scripture which says “be sober and be vigilant, for your adversary the devil walketh to and fro the earth seeking whom he may devour”. It is an eye opening movie that brings to light how unsafe the world we live in is and how we all should be equipped against the wiles of the enemy.

HONEST DECEIVER by OPARA OKWUCHI

STORY:– Fatima Zanna
SCREENPLAY: – Wonder Obinna Obasi
DIRECTOR: – Andy Chukwu
STILL PHOTO: GENTLE SOUL
WELFARE: AUGUSTINE OKEKE
MUSIC: SEIGHA SMOOTH EBIDE
CO-ORDINATOR: DAVID AGINWA
LIGHT/SOUND: UCHE UWAJU
PRODUCTION MANAGER: IFEANYI NDOKWU
GRAPHICS: JAHBLESS UKAEGBU
POST PRODUCTION: ULZEE DIGITAL STUDIO
ASST. EDITOR: SAMUEL EMMANUEL
EDITOR: JAHBLESS UKAEGBU
PRODUCER: AZUKA ODUNUKWE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: AZUKA ODUNUKWE AND ULOMA ODUNUKWE
DIRECTOR: TCHIDI CHIKERE
CONTINUITY: CHIJIOKE OKEKE OGUNO
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: EFE EPHRAIM
MAKE UP ARTIST: KINGSLEY GODWIN
COSTUME DESIGNER: CHIEMELA NWAGBOSO
RELEASE DATE: 2010
GENRE: MELODRAM DURATION:1hr,26 mins
THEMES: Mental Illness in Nigeria
Marriage of Convenience in Nigeria
Domestic Violence in Nigeria
Politics Nigerian
Family Secrets in Nigeria
Money Rituals i
LOCATION: NIGERIA REVIEWER: OPARA OKWUCHI DOMINICA
09BE08985
STARRING: Ini Edo – Diana
Justus Esiri – Denis
Benedict Johnson – Flobert
Ali Nuhu – Damian
Fatima Zanna – Eva
Steve Eboh – Senator
Tony Ezimadu – Chief Williams
Kingsley Precious – Raymond
Maureen Ihua – Maira
Ngozi Duru – Annabel
Veronica Dafe – Doctor
Lilian Ume – Sophie
Sylvia Oluchi – Lara
Esther Okereke – Regina
Marcus Pilla – Nico
Inno Nwafor – Smack
Andy Chukwu – Oscar
Oge Madu – Court Clerk
Chinonso Ogbuka – Rose
REVIEW:
Diana is in a long term relationship with Flobert. Her relationship is being threatened by her parents who want her to marry Chief Williams’ son Damian in order to aid her father in realising his political ambitions. They will not accept Flobert, deeming him a “pauper” and below their social standing and this is despite the fact that he helped put both Diana and her sister through school. Eventually Diana is persuaded to accept Damian’s proposal and wedding arrangements are made. At the same time Flobert discovers a secret about Damian that could have a devastating effect on Diana’s future. Flobert tries to tell Diana the secret about Damian but she refuses to listen, misreading his intentions. However it is not long after marriage that she discovers the secret for herself, and slowly throughout the plot other secrets emerge.
Senator Macauley’s political ambitions are under threat by the appearance of someone from his past that he would have rather forgotten. He now has to make the decision between his son’s future happiness versus his political future.
SPOILERS:
We are shown how money and greed can ruin relationships. Before Diana’s family came into money they were accepting of Damian, especially because at that time they needed him. In the same way Flobert’s friend was formerly good friends with Damian before Damian’s family came into money and resulted in the end of that relationship. We can see that conditions are temporary and the same way that one acquires money is the same way that one can lose money. Relationships should be based on personal qualities and characteristics, not superficial material things. Both of the sister’s marriages were arranged by their gather for greedy ulterior motives, and we see the grief that is caused in the process.
In Diana’s time of need it is her friends that the family looked down upon that are sitting by her hospital bedside giving support after she has been battered by the crazy man that her parent’s set her up with simply because of his father’s positioning in the society. We can see how money is not important in the grand scheme of things. It cannot buy sanity or happiness. What good is marrying a rich man whose family are connected when he is crazy and batters you? Can you enjoy money and status when you are lying in a coffin?
_____________
Damian’s secret is his mental illness. In my opinion it was badly portrayed (what’s new right?) He was made into some sort of Jekyll and Hyde sort of character. He supposedly went for treatment in London. The treatment is supposed to have worked so why is his behaviour still off? Is he still supposed to be on medication or what? It is unbelievable that NO symptoms whatsoever are displayed before the marriage but then immediately afterwards his madness is full throttle. As I have said before research is vital. If he was treated in London why is there no name for his condition apart from “madness.” It doesn’t take much to google schizophrenia or bi-polar and make the symptoms fit.
The whole wedding set up was confusing. Maucauley says that his own son is supposed to marry Eva, Diana’s sister and because he is being blackmailed by his wife’s long lost son Oscar, he agrees to pretend to be Oscar’s father in order for Ocar to wed Eva and prevent any scandal. I found it weird that Eva’s parents did not look shocked to see another guy being brought to them. Are we supposed to believe that neither Eva or her parents or sister had never even met or seen a picture of the guy that she had planned to marry?! Raymond presents himself at Eva’s parents house after the wedding and they look shocked when he announces his name. Hold up! I don’t remember Oscar pretending his name was Raymond so why the shock? After Oscar locks up Eva in a hotel room after their marriage he tells her the truth behind the situation, and tells her, “I did it because I love you so much.” HUH? How? They apparently haven’t ever met so how does he figure he loves her? Then at the end of the movie we see Raymond enter the picture and come to claim Eva. Raymond has come with a gun and ready to kill for his “wife.”. She apparently has never met either of them and they are both going postal over her. During the confrontation Oscar asks Eva who she wants to spend the rest of her life with. Hmmm… Great choices, which one should she choose, a kidnapper or a potential killer?
_____________
In the end we learn that Damian’s father used his brains for money rituals and this is what caused the madness. I thought it was a ridiculous ending. I find that Charm/rituals always used as a cop out to explain someone’s behaviour. If Damian’s father had in fact used his brains for money rituals as is claimed, then why was he sent to London for treatment? Why are we told that the treatment worked? How can the treatment have worked if he wasn’t really mentally ill? After the children in the movie being sacrificed by their parents for their own selfish gains it was nice that it ended with everybody with someone that they actually wanted to be with and their parents accepting of the choices made. Ali Nuhu is popping up everywhere and is a bit stiff in he acting, as is Fatima Zanna. Her acting was patchy as was her story; both needed a lot of work. On the whole I found the movie a little too far fetched for my liking and there were too many holes in the story. If the execution was better it could have been a really good movie, but the execution was weak
SOUNDTRACK: My heart will go on by Celine Dion
TITLE SEQUENCE: At the beginning of the movie before the title was revealed the main casts were shown from scenes of the movie with their names written underneath then the title was revealed on a black background.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
SHOTS: medium shot, close up and extreme close up (the extreme close up when flobert proposed To eva In the presence of Diana, there was more emphasis on Diana’s face to show the hurt when his wife said yes).
ANGLE: Medium angle was foremost in the movie though the extremely high and low angles were also used.
TRANSITION: at the beginning of the move there was a zoom out from Damian’s shoes to show that he was preparing for an interview, also along the line of the movie there was a zoom in to the wall clock to emphasize how late it was and Flobert had not returned home.
COSTUME: Kofoworola Onifade; the costumes were fit for all the parts played.
MAKE-UP: Regina Chukwu; the make-up for some of the casts was a little too much.
REFLECTION: I was really impressed with the line to which the story took and also the end I myself couldn’t believe I could settle down to finish a Nigerian movie not to speak of a Yoruba one oduction W
PERSONAL ASSESMENT: I’d give it a five over ten.

LOVERS CREEK Ajayeoba Mayokun

WRITTEN BY: Cajetan Ugwuegbu
DIRECTED BY: Ikechukwu Onyeka
PRODUCED BY: Samuel Aghanti
Great favor productions, produced in the year 2009
MAIN CAST
JENNY AS RITA DOMINIC, UCHE AS DESMOND ELLIOT, GREG AS MIKE EZUORONYE, ESTHER AS NADIA BUARI, OLU JACOBS AS CHIEF, FUNKE AS EBUBE NWANGBO……………………
SUMMARY OF THE FILM
Jenny has just been jilted by mark her boyfriend, which lands her in the hospital, because of this incidence her father, banned her from going out and became over protective of her.
She later met uche who was a journalist in a filling station whom she became very close to, because of her father’s over protective nature uche was locked in a cell for 8 days. The part one ended where uche’s mum Mrs. Evelyn came to beg for her son’s release.


Chief (Jenny’s father) agreed to release uche on one condition he sign an undertaken that he will never come close to jenny again.
Jenny and Uche started seeing each other secretly after uche’s release in uche’s friend house Greg who also has a girlfriend Esther whom is also jenny’s friend. Uche suggested that they all go to an island where they can express their love very well without any opposition which he tagged the lover’s creek, which they all agreed to including jenny without her parent’s consent. The part2 ended where they embarked on the journey to the lover’s creek, they were joined by Greg’s friend Jeff.
Garden of Eden
The title of the movie was changed in the part 3. When they got to the island they decided to have a picnic, they were later joined by three people Olu, his girlfriend funke and funke’s friend Christy they mingled with the 5 people that got there earlier, they paired themselves into two and started chatting happily. Later on jenny decided to go and ease herself uche also followed her while jenny was easing herself uche heard a noise and decided to take a look, there he saw four people trying to extract oil illegally from a pipeline, he called on the others to come and look but they warned him that it is non of his business but Uche insisted that been a journalist it is his business and that such a news can win him the journalist of the year award, then uche and Jeff climbed a tree to get a closer look and also to snap the people, unfortunately Jeff fell down from the tree and the four bandit heard the noise of Jeff’s fall and they traced the noise with a telescope and found that some people were trying to take pictures of them, they decide to kill all of them no matter how many they are so that they would not get implicated. They set out on their killing mission and the first set of people they killed were Greg and his girlfriend Esther, the other still running for their dear life left Jeff whose leg was paining him due to his fall. The second set of people was Olu and when they wanted to kill Funke the camera wiped off the scene. They later killed funke’s friend Christy that was when Uche got angry and killed one of the bandit that killed Christy. It remained 3 lovers and 3 bandits in the island. The three continued the run for their lives, from behind one of the bandits killed Jeff and shot jenny on her arm, Uche took the gun of the first bandit he killed and killed the second one that was where he dropped his camera and carried jenny to a hiding place. The two remaining bandits seeing their colleagues dead concluded that the remaining two has absconded so they went back, remaining uche and jenny in the island where he proposed to her and promised to take her home the next day but before the next day jenny had died in his arms.
Uche got to the city later in the day and went straight to jenny’s parent’s house where he was arrested for the murder of jenny, he tried to explain what happened but without any evidence which was the camera he dropped in the forest no one believed him. It happened that Funke Olu’s girlfriend was not killed, she heard of Uche’s ordeal and decided to go as a witness to the police, and on getting there she narrated everything to the police and told them that one of the bandits was her uncle and he secretly spared her live, the police later arrested the two remaining bandits through the help of funke and found out that it was chief, jenny’s father that sent the bandits to go and extract oil and illegally and also ordered them to kill the people that where taking snapshots of them not knowing that his daughter was among them, he was arrested and that the end of the film.
LESSON OF THE FILM: If you live in a glass house don’t throw stones
GENRE: Romance Tragedy/ Adventure
CINEMATOGRAPHY

• C camera shots: Medium shots- medium shots were taken when the lovers were paired in twos in the island. It was also taken when the lovers were travelling to the island in the car.
• Long shorts- Long shots was taken when all the five friend were in putting some stuff they needed for the picnic inside the car they five of them were shown( full image) with the environment an d when Mrs. Evelyn came to beg for her son’s release, her full body was shown with the environs of jenny’s house.
• Extreme long shot was taken when an emphasis was made on the binoculars the thieves were using to trace the lover only the binocular was shown.
CAMERA PLACEMENT Subjective or point of view, we were made to see what the thieves were seeing through the binoculars, the camera was showing what the bandits were looking at, and also when funke got to know that Uche was imprisoned for the crime he didn’t commit she got to know through the news on TV.
Camera movement The camera zoomed in through the binoculars when the thieves were tracing the lovers.
My opinion on the movie
I think the movie is not the normal love story we see everyday and I like the transition of the movie from a love story to an action movie the script writer did a good job, but I doubt if the director has ever directed a movie before cause it is a poorly directed movie because the part 2 of the movie ended where they got to the creek and they shown the whole journey in the movie for like a whole 30minutes which was so annoying the part three started from the beginning of the journey again which took another 30 minutes of the movie, and during the journey they were not doing anything but just playing soundtracks which makes no sense, the movie was like a replica of a Shakespeare work a love turned tragedy(Romeo and Juliet) and I don’t know if they were trying to imitate the movie by quoting poems throughout the movie which was totally unnecessary and unrealistic even when Uche was thanking his friend for his support he was still quoting poems which is very unrealistic. The bandits were just shooting around even when there was no one in view and they were also making unnecessary noise and jumping around like hippos which made the whole action part look fake. Jenny in the film was shoot in the arm and she died, who die from a shoot on the arm? When Uche killed the first bandit he hit him on the head with a big stone 5 times and blood neither splashed on Uche’s shirt or on his head the blood was only shown on the floor which made it very fake, there was only one soundtrack for the movie and when I thought the movie was a love story they the soundtrack was telling another story which gave ma a possible hint of what might happen eventually, but overall the movie was not really predictable ,so I rate the movie a 40/100.

COMFORT MY SOUL

Story – Chinedu Nwani
Screenplay – Amechi Ukeji
Director – Afam Okereke
STILL PHOTO: GENTLE SOUL
WELFARE: AUGUSTINE OKEKE
MUSIC: SEIGHA SMOOTH EBIDE
CO-ORDINATOR: DAVID AGINWA
LIGHT/SOUND: UCHE UWAJU
PRODUCTION MANAGER: IFEANYI NDOKWU
GRAPHICS: JAHBLESS UKAEGBU
POST PRODUCTION: ULZEE DIGITAL STUDIO
ASST. EDITOR: SAMUEL EMMANUEL
EDITOR: JAHBLESS UKAEGBU
PRODUCER: AZUKA ODUNUKWE
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: AZUKA ODUNUKWE AND ULOMA ODUNUKWE
DIRECTOR: TCHIDI CHIKERE
CONTINUITY: CHIJIOKE OKEKE OGUNO
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: EFE EPHRAIM
MAKE UP ARTIST: KINGSLEY GODWIN
COSTUME DESIGNER: CHIEMELA NWAGBOSO
RELEASE DATE: 2010
GENRE: MELODRAM DURATION:1hr,26 mins
Themes:
Love
Battling adversity
LOCATION: NIGERIA REVIEWER: OPARA OKWUCHI DOMINICA
09BE08985 Starring:
Mercy Johnson – Amarachi
Clarion Chukwurah – Monica
Olu Jacobs – Chief Kalu
Van Vicker – Henry
Camilla Mberekpe – Rose
Chukwuma Uchegbu – Father
Ofili Ugbor – Doctor
Emma Emordi – Nonso
Akanchowo Okoro – Chima
Stanley Ekwedike – Chinedu
Paul Umoh – Obi
Osodebe Chike – Operation Man
Austin Okafor – Personnel man
Rita Daniels – Accountant
Esther Ugwu – Secretary
Themes:
Love
Battling adversity
My Rating – 60%
Synopsis:
Amarachi is an orphan whose sole carer her grandmother has recently died. As well as coping with her grandmother’s death she is also receiving unwanted attention from a boy at school called Nonso. Nonso has been chasing Amarachi around school but she is not interested. His clique have threatened to throw him out for being a coward if he does not succeed in having his way with her. The situation turns from him simply trying to toast her into his friends organising for him to set her up into being” taken by force”.
One day she is confronted by Nonso and his clique, taken to the bush and almost raped. Nonso is on top of her when she saves herself by grabbing a sharp tool that she finds in the grass. She stabs him in the neck and escapes. Nonso dies as a result of the stabbing and Amarachi is banished from the kingdom.
Now a lowly and struggling orphan her luck improves when she comes across a kindly priest who takes her into his parrish and organises for the parrish to pay for her education to any level she should wish to study to. Can Amarachi overcome the problems of her past and find comfort in her new life?
SPOILERS
Henry is the son of Chief Kalu and his wife Monica. Now in the movie they come across as a perfectly nice and reasonable couple. I found that the discord created because Henry had chosen to follow the career path of becoming a doctor highly unconvincing. A doctor is a reputable and prestigious profession in any part of the world, so the way they treated him for becoming a doctor seemed a bit over the top.
After all did they not send him abroad to study?. If they didn’t want him to become a doctor they could have thrown him straight into the family business or withdrawn support when he first attempted to embark on his medical studies. His mother calls his choice “medical madness”.This disdain would have made more sense to me if he had chosen to pursue a career in art, writing or acting. I mean seriously what educated and exposed parents would frown upon their kid being a doctor?
_____________
I love Clarion Chukwurah but am so used to her playing wicked roles that I kept waiting for her to break into evil mode. At first it seemed like she was possibly jealous of her husband’s admiration for Amarachi, and so I thought the movie was going to continue along that vein, but instead we see her genuine care and love for Amarachi and she takes on a surrogate mother supportive role. I am not sure if it was meant for her to be shown as jealous in the beginning or I misconstrued it this way?
I feel the movie lacked some clear focus on what Henry’s parents’ problem was with him. It was made out that it was his career path that was the problem, but then a little later in the movie it appears to be his attitude that is an issue. In one scene Monica thanks Amarachi for positively changing Henry and the relationship between Henry and his parents improves under Amarachi’s influence. However he is still a doctor so what is really the issue? It also seemed to me that any issues between them were solely the fault of his parents.
Is Amarachi an angel or a witch? LOL She is the saviour of everything in the movie. Anytime there is a problem from business to personal family problems she is called upon and she always produces good results. There is one instance in which she actually convinces Van to join the business. Her reasons did not seem compelling to me. Chinedu (story) and Amechi (script) should have come better than that. We then see Henry apologising for following his dreams WTF??? As if he was off being an armed robber. I found this highly unconvincing. There needed to be a valid reason and clear focus on what the bone of contention between parents and child was going to be for the movie to really make sense.
____________
At the beginning of the movie we see Mercy’s grandmother on her death bed. Now what I want to know is what was that stuff on her face supposed to be? It looked like she dunked her head in a bucketful of vomit and left it to dry. What was she supposed to be dying of? A skin condition? The way she was coughing you would think it was a lung disease! Why do the movies always have someone coughing before they die?
A funny scene to look out for is at the end of the movie when Amarachi is beating herself up over falling in love with Henry. She is full of fear and apprehension that Henry’s family will think her a gold digger. It is funny because we the viewers have seen that his parents are wholly behind the union and so we know that she is worrying about nothing. Mercy is very convincing and the slow build up of attraction between her and Van is very believable and lovely to watch.
_____________
Conclusion:
Despite its moot points I did like the movie. Mercy Johnson is such a versatile actress. She can sex it up with the best of them but when she is playing miss prim and proper she can do that to perfection too. Although predictable, (it was obvious she and Van were going to hook up) it was a nice feel good movie about a downtrodden individual battling against the odds and coming out on top. We see Amarachi lose her parents, her grandmother, almost get raped, get banished from the only life she knew, to becoming a Masters degree holder, General Manager of a multi-billion Naira company and finding a man who truly loves her.
PERSONAL ASSESMENT: Not bad! I’d recommend watching this.Nollywood P
SOUNDTRACK: My heart will go on by Celine Dion
TITLE SEQUENCE: At the beginning of the movie before the title was revealed the main casts were shown from scenes of the movie with their names written underneath then the title was revealed on a black background.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
SHOTS: medium shot, close up and extreme close up (the extreme close up when henry proposed To mercy In the presence of amarachi, there was more emphasis on Amarachi’s face to show the hurt when his wife said yes).
ANGLE: Medium angle was foremost in the movie though the extremely high and low angles were also used.
TRANSITION: at the beginning of the move there was a zoom out from Debo's shoes to show that he was preparing for an interview, also along the line of the movie there was a zoom in to the wall clock to emphasize how late it was and Subuola had not returned home.
COSTUME: Kofoworola Onifade; the costumes were fit for all the parts played.
MAKE-UP: Regina Chukwu; the make-up for some of the casts was a little too much.
REFLECTION: I was really impressed with the line to which the story took and also the end I myself couldn’t believe I could settle down to finish a Nigerian movie not to speak of a Yoruba one oduction W
PERSONAL ASSESMENT: Not bad! I’d recommend watching this.

OHUN OKO SOMI DA

OHUN OKO SOMIDA
DIRECTOR: LASUN RAY
WRITER: sola sobowale
PRODUCER: SOLA SOBOWALE
LINE PRODUCER: ADEBAYO SALAMI
SCREEN PLAY: ADEBAYO SALAMI,TAIWO SOBOWALE, KEHINDE SOBOWALE, LASUN RAY, FEMI OLAGOOKUN.
GENRE: TRAGEDY
NAME OF REVIEWER: SUBI JOY CHIOMA
THE REVIEW(PLOT SUMMARY)
The movie started with a scene of MR DAIRO, a barrister(ADEBAYO SALAMI) and MRS DAIRO(sola sobowale) in their bedroom preparing to go for an occasion, they bid their children farewell. Getting home the couple begins a discussion in their bedroom and MRS DAIRO(sola sobowale) tells her husband MR DAIRO(ADEBAYO SALAMI) about a house she found, but her husband tells her that they would not buy the house because they have more than enough house already. The next day the couple goes to the office of a friend of MR DAIRO, and there he sees a young lady clarion(mercy aigbe) who works as a secretary. He persuaded his friend into making clarion work for him as his personal assistant, along the line clarion and barrister DAIRO gets involve in an affair. MRS DAIRO(sola sobowale) finds out and tries everything in her power to stop the affair, but with everything did she ended up losing her marriage, her children to her husband and her closest relative aunty subomi (lanre Hassan).
THEME:
SETTING: the movie has a setting based in Nigeria, precisely Abeokuta.
MAIN CASTS: SOLA SOBOWALE, ADEBAYO SALAMI, MERCY AIGBE, MISTURA ASUNRAMU,FATHIA Balogun.
COUNTRY: NIGERIA
LANGUAGE: YORUBA
Sound track: the theme song was written by fatai Izebe
TITLE SEQUENCE: the background of the movie was black and the names were written in purple, and there was a background sound music.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
SHOTS: the long, medium shot and close up were done perfectly
TRANSITION: sharp zoom-in out was done when MRS DAIRO was having a conversation with her aunt.
Camera speed: medium camera speed was maintained throughout the movie.
Costume: the costume manager in the movie were afeez eniola, sodiq Adebayo and there did a perfect job with the use of everyday wears and corporate wears.
Finale
I think the crew that worked together in making this movie a success did their very best, not only did they cover the reality of most African marriages they also left the audience a moral lesson of having patience when it comes to dealing with thing