Bent Arrows

After all the hype is dead, after all the propaganda is gone, after all the PR attempts are over it becomes ten times easier to see a movie for what it is – whatever that may be.

Bent Arrows is a movie that explores the lives of three different women from three different backgrounds. It tells of how they found themselves in their current situations, and the effect their backgrounds had on their future selves

An honest expository storyline, yet a barely original concept. I highly doubt that in 2010 even, the incestuous rape (or over-ambitious parents or stolen wealth) storyline was anything near original. So no, this movie will not keep you at the edge of your seat because you are just in awe of its originality, neither will it keep you at the edge of your seat because it’s an uber fascinating storyline.

The appeal for me was in the actors, I just wanted to see Stella on screen again and that too, in something great (as I didn’t like “Behind Closed Doors 3-4” much, and I’m yet to see “Two brides and a baby“), and Omoni Oboli has always been able to deliver so I had no doubts that she would in this movie. I also noticed from the trailer that Joke Silva and Olu Jacobs were paired as husband and wife in this movie, so that alone was another reason.

All involved did a fantastic job. Stella became the character and reminded the viewers of why we fell in love with her in the first place. I am yet to see a movie where Omoni falls short, and boy does she know how to pick her films. Joke and Olu are veterans for a reason but while watching this movie you’re not thinking ‘oh the chemistry between these two’ because it’s really not about them as a couple but them as parents, a role they carry out with utmost brilliance. Sylvia Oluchy, who plays ‘Idara’ in this, did a good job with her character. I’ve never seen her on screen prior to this and yes she did have her weak moments (as an actress that is) but her strong moments outnumbered them.

There were a couple weak actors here and there but no actor that couldn’t act. So unlike your average Nollywood movie where most just can’t act and have no business being in front of a camera, all could to a certain extent: there were strong actors and weak actors

One thing this movie definitely has going for it is the story – at least the story in the first half. As it starts out and the foundations are laid, conflicts arise and characters are developed, it’s an interesting storyline. It’s sad. It’s depressing. It evokes emotion so it holds your attention. And as events unfold it keeps at it but not as much as it did in the beginning. As the movie progresses, I’d say interest dwindles (at least it did for me). I personally didn’t like the cliched line the movie followed, or the cliched conclusion it had.

I do commend this movie for not becoming so excessively about the ‘runs’ aspect that the purpose of the film is lost. Every scene in the movie had a purpose and all tied into one another.

One thing I didn’t understand was the hair, the outfits, the tint and the general mood of the movie. Was it set in an earlier time? Because no one made note of it. I couldn’t understand why so many people were rocking an afro in 2010 or why Stella is wearing a mini-skirt with fishnet leggings?

As a movie based on a novel (a novel I haven’t read), it brings the characters to life in a (what I’d call) ‘well-enough’ manner. As incest/rape movies are concerned however, I’d pick “Distance Between” over “Bent Arrows” any day. I was more fascinated by that one.