Kimberly Elise, Ama K. Abebrese, Omotola J Ekehinde, John Dumelo, Ebbe Bassey, Randall Batinkoff, David Dontoh
Three women from different backgrounds are bound together by a common tragedy; the loss of a child. In a destined meeting in a small West African village, the women journey together to redemption, love, life and forgiveness as they renovate a haunted, dilapidated clinic for the villagers
"This is Africa, need I remind you. We don't adopt children. Society demands we make them" - Ama K. Abebrese "Look at this! This is my land. I inherited it from my father. It grows nothing. It's barren! It's... It's dead. It's dead! Just like me" - Omotola J. Ekehinde "You do not know my life. Don't judge me! Don't stand there in your tight clothes, in your makeup, in your white man's accent and judge me" - Ebbe Bassey
Leila Djansi
Julia Djansi, Theodore Baidoo, Winrick Kolbe
Leila Djansi
2011
Amazing storyline. Amazing cast.
√
-Story: [5 out of 5] Once upon a time, the ‘story’ criterion of critique on NR simply meant to me that the movie had a story. A story that I’d be interested in hearing if I was made to sit and forced to listen to it. However, I think the definition of the criterion has changed now. It is one thing to write a story. Any story… anyone can do it… once upon a time… and that is the end of my story. But it’s a whole other ball game to construct a story in which every little detail ties together. Where the tension rises from within. A story like this is a story in which the characters need not tell us what to feel, you feel it regardless. The story is really sad, and just when you think it can’t possibly get any sadder. It does! It’s an incredibly easy and quick watch… a job well done by Ms. Djansi.
-Originality: [5 out of 5] Towards the end of the movie, and probably because of Kimberly Elise’s presence in this movie, I got a “For Colored Girls” vibe from this movie. Do not get me wrong, both movies are poles apart. They both deal with very different issues and the only two things they share in common are colored girls and Kimberly Elise
-Predictability: [4 out of 5] I mean… what do you predict? A happy ending? But ‘a happy ending’ to what? I predicted (after reading the synopsis) that they’ll all find what they are looking for. What do you predict?
-Directing/Production: [5 out of 5] Amazing cinematography! Ah-may-zing. Attention to detail in everything but mostly I loved the casting. All in all, a great production
-Acting quality: [4 out of 5] People argue “Team Omotola” versus “Team Genevieve”. Each person has their points and reasons for choosing one side (or so it seems). Some say “Omotola doesn’t know how to select her roles.” Others say “Genevieve is always acting the same roles”. “Omotola hasn’t been in movies in a while; it’s only Genny we see”. “Genny is everywhere all of a sudden, no be like say na she act pass”. But when it comes down to it, who is the better actress? I think looking at their past work, there is definitely more versatility to be seen amongst both actresses. Both are equally great, the fact however is that most viewers have an unshakable lean towards one person or the other for whatever reason, and it’s wrong to assume that the other actress is worse because of personal preference. Regardless of what may be, Omosexy brought it in this movie. She literally became the character which makes it so much easier to go along with her on this emotional journey of hers.
Ama K. Abebrese. I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised. After Ama’s performance in “Sinking Sands” for some reason, I had unconsciously began to classify her as a sub par actress. In my head, pitting her against the greatness that is Omo J and internationally acclaimed Kimberly was suicidal. But fret not, because Ama brought it! One can not help but notice the new found energy in her performance in this movie. Maybe it was just the script for Sinking Sands, but in retrospect her acting dragged for that movie. The Ama K in this movie, however, was fire in comparison.
Kimberly Elise. When I heard that there would be an American in this movie, I admit that I was confused. I kept wondering what kind of role she would be given. The only thing I could come up with, based on what is expected from African producers, is that she’d be cast as a Ghanaian. As in, Kimberly Elise with her Americana accent… a Ghanaian born in Ghana? You can see how that didn’t gel well in my head. However, one must learn to expect everything but the ‘status quo’ from Ms. Djansi. I can not imagine anybody else in Kimberly’s role. Amazing casting.
And I can not but mention Maa Dede in this movie (played by Ebbe Bassey). Personally, I have never ever seen this woman in a movie before but from the moment she stepped into the scene she brought with her an intoxicating fire. Ah! The energy… At first, I thought she was simply an extra and I kept wondering to myself “Mehn where does Leila get these amazing extras from” but as the movie progressed I realized she was here to stay. The lady was phenomenal. Her performance was outrageous (in a very very positive way). All the extras in this movie were great. I am really tempted to input a 4.75 for acting but unfortunately it’s either perfection or not perfection.
Guest appearances (that I recognized) by Fiifi Coleman (aka “Chidi” from “The Adams Apples“), Eddie Nartey, Khareema Aquiar and Kofi Adjorlolo.
-Setting: [4 out of 5] A job well done
-Costume/Make-Up: [5 out of 5] On point
-Props and Graphics: [5 out of 5] Here’s a couple things I loved… 1) An actual pregnant woman was used for the scene in which a baby bump was required 2) Everything else (I think that about covers it all)
-Video Quality: [5 out of 5] Well done
-Audio Quality [5 out of 5] Good
–Soundtrack: [5 out of 5] See the beautiful thing about Ghanaian songs/soundtracks is that none of us (well except the Ghanaians) know what they are singing about yet we are all dancing and humming along. For all we know, they could be cursing our generation yet we are smiling and going along with it. That’s just how good it is
-Musical Score: [4 out of 5] Proves that music is not needed in every gap to create suspense. Some silences are tension enough.
Watch The Movie Online: http://www.amazon.com/Ties-that-Bind/dp/B009YRGLZS/ref=sr_1_2?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1351609569&sr=1-2&keywords=leila+djansi
Lotanna
COMING SOON: Interception
I did not enjoy this movie that much. It just didn’t click with me. I would not disagree that it’s a beautiful movie, though. I have much respect for the writer and director.
Omotola is the standout actor in this movie,i was so shocked. Omotola is a great actress and very adaptable to every role ,just like Mercy Johnson
Good stuff! At least people are discussing a movie in a civil manner and have views on it. Very refreshing
NR, in Africa, a woman does not decide where to bury her children. u are not supposed to bury just anywhere. i also realize she said SOME of the children died in her arms. that made me to know that the graves were memories of the children because if only some died in her arms, then she might have miscarried the others so they obviously could not have been buried in there. and u are right, she could also have put fresh sand on the graves when she buried the 7th one. if she did. ties that bind is an intelligent movie. even the thing with the ghost, the women were all afraid of something which was never really there. in english its called foreshadowing. nice film.
that was the reason kim said “sometimes the things we fear in life,we didnt fear at all”…..which proves the ghost they always thought was there,was actually never there. Great movie,im waiting for the dvd to buy.
The seven graves were indeed a booper to my opinion. When you watch a movie, things like that should appear natural. You don’t have to spend several minutes to find a plausible reason for these things to be there. How plausible is it that a grieving (and not in good shape) mother bother would get a shovel to add fresh sand to six or seven graves (and such big mounts of sand)? I think it would have been a better idea to have stones and crosses to show it is only a memory of her children
This is not Leila’s strongest story and it did not touch me for whatever reasons. I still love me some Sinking Sands. Oh biggest booper was the Fresh graves for the children. All of them looked like they were buried same day.
I do realize that each person is entitled to his or her own opinion and I respect that, honestly I do. But as regards your theory for ‘the fresh graves’ did you ever stop to consider that as she was burying her 7th child she went over each grave and covered it with new soil? It’s a possibility and as long as there are other possible excuses, it can’t really be called a blooper, or can it?
Personally, I liked ties that bind better but I guess ‘to each his own’
i watched the movie. love it love it. i was privileged to read the script. my friend was supposed to have played the role Ama played and she had the script and sent it to me. Kimberlys role changed a lot. in the script, she was to be this woman who was guilty about leaving her child and was doing penance. beating herself in catholic style. her back had scars she was hiding from her friends. that was not shot. i was disappointed. maybe kimberly did not want to do that.
lol…. maybe she didn’t o. haha
@NR thanks for these reviews o. Is it just me or does Omotola look big in there?
lol she definitely did look big but it was probably because…. well first she was pregnant and then the character she was playing, so it made sense 🙂
i love dis movie…i have been watching a lot of nolly movies lately where overacting seems to b d latest trend…watching dis was a great delight. No overacting or anything of such… Omotola and ebbe bassey were my fav characters. Kimberly was jst there, nothin spectacular bt we all knw she’s a VERY GOOD actress… AMA K was phenomenal. Good movie all d same
Now that you point it out, there has been a lot of overacting amongst acclaimed actors in the industry of recent. Regardless, there are still those who know how to act and do it well but I agree with you, a movie like this is always a breath of fresh air
Now I have a movie for this weekend! I watched Mr and Mrs after your review and I wasn’t as impressed as you. But Leila has not disappointed yet.
lol I guess one of the (if not the single) most impressive things about “Mr and Mrs” was the budget. A movie like that, with a budget of little to nothing (from what I hear) so imagine if she had more resources at her disposal?
Not to mention Nse was phenomenal but speaking of ‘phenomenal’ Leila is a force… amazing!
what?? who wasnt impressed with mr and mrs?? cm’oon nooow(in my nigerian voice…im ghanaian btw lol)…mr and mrs was amazing,i luved that movie,matter of fact,im about to watch it again for like the 5th time lool. Nse’s performance proved she’s nowhere near fading in this industry. Amazing!!!
Btw I watched Dumebi the dirty girl after the review.. I haven’t stopped laughing..thanks for the review
Lol, you’re welcoome ma’am! 🙂
Nice Review…. I loved the lines in the trailer, so touching.. Nice cast!!! Nice director… Nice Nollywood reinvented..
Yes o! We are slowly but surely reinventing from the inside out. Truly amazing cast and crew… lovely script. An all round generally amazing work
This is a must see then. Please tell me it’s on youtube!*awoof*
Lol you go wait tire. This one won’t be reaching YouTube anytime soon. However, it should be on irokotv/netflix in december or January. I think I heard something about it being on YouTube but that will probably be Youtube Movies @ youtube.com/movies for a little fee 😉
its on youtube,but u def have to pay to watch it….great cast ensemble.love love love it…it was worth the dollars i spent on it.