I Sing of a Well

-Originality: [5 out of 5] The movie seemed reminiscent of many old stories to me and yet entirely different. I got an Aamir Khan in “Laagan” feel from it simply because of the paying homage to another to protect your people from others. The love story within it got me thinking of Izu Ojukwu’s “The Child” for reasons even I can’t explain. Like many others, I also got a Lion King feel from this movie with the whole domineering king attitude and indeed to a certain extent the movie had biblical motifs. Yet, it held its own in originality.

-Predictability: [5 out of 5] The normal African movie appeal and the silent golden rule of most African romance stories, in that “Every Lover must have a happy ending”, does not apply to this story. Yes! I was expecting it to… but with Leila Djansi, expect the unexpected (or is that… Pascal Amanfo?)

-Directing/Editing: [4 out of 5] I’m a big fan of Leila Djansi so it might indeed take a “legion of slaves” for me to say a negative word. However, if the need arises I will but as yet it hasn’t. Indeed, there was a lot of controversy and drama surrounding the making of this movie that has, as it seems, stalled the production of the remaining parts of this trilogy. I will not go into the details of the drama for two reasons 1) this is a movie review site. I think there are enough people as it is spreading rumors, we don’t need me to join them. And 2) because I don’t like to read about rumors and fights before a review so as to prevent any biases. I like to review a person’s work and not a person’s character. Regardless, I do hope there is more to come.

-Acting quality: [4 out of 5] Akofa Asiedu as a young delectable woman that two brave, ready-to-fight-till-the-last-drop-of-blood men are dying for, was a good actress in that she executed her role regardless the face did not fit the role in that she looks too old and I don’t think it’s practical to think that she was so beautiful that out of all the girls in the village, it was her the king was dying for. Prince David Osei, I’d have to say that this is indeed the first time I am seeing him in an appropriate role. Enough of all that Frank Rajah-ish things he is always doing where he plays the same role over and over, film after film. Everybody else gave a splendid performance

-Setting: [5 out of 5] Amazing set. It reeked of ‘effort’. Work was actually put into it

-Costume/Make-Up: [4 out of 5] Job well done.

-Video Quality: [4 out of 5] Amazing cinematography. Amazing video quality. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing

-Soundtrack: [5 out of 5] Loved it even though I had no clue what was being said

-Musical Score: [5 out of 5] Nicely done