Cry of a Maiden

It’s hard to hate a movie that is the answer to your prayers!

Those who have seen the movie might begin to wonder ‘what prayers?’ Let me rephrase. After seeing so many pointless gigolo versus babes movie upon cultist versus royalty movies, I’m really happy to see a movie where someone is crying (yes I know it sounds warped, but it’s true)

In ‘Cry of a Maidens’ a maiden is falsely accused of murder after which she is miraculously pardoned. One would think that would be the end of her troubles but unfortunately, that was only the beginning. Eventually she catches a break (miraculously) and is hired by the same person that saved her life to come and work in the palace (ok, so it’s still a Royal movie) where, as is expected, her presence in the palace marks the beginning of good times for all the royals.

It’s really good to see Chioma on screen again, considering her long hiatus from the industry. Her charm and talent is unarguable, however, I was hoping that she’d be involved in better/high quality productions as opposed to all the made-in-Asaba films she’s been doing since she returned. Not that there’s anything wrong with made-in-Asaba productions, just the ones she has been choosing like “Arrangee Mama” and the sort do not seem befitting of her, in my opinion.

One cannot but mention the lead actress, Chika Ike. The way I was starring intently at her whenever she appeared on the screen one would have thought I was crazy. I have never thought Chika could act, truth be told, and every time she appears on screen I look for proof to the contrary but it never comes. And yet again in this movie, it didn’t come. Chika seems to always go through the motions of what is required of an actress but one never gets the feeling that she IS becoming the actress, or that she IS owning the character. The conviction is not there.

Watching this movie, one thing stands out above all else: it all looks cheap. From the sets to the costumes and everything in between it all seemed cheap. I can’t understand what they straddled Chioma and Miltex in, or the guards, or the maidens. It all appeared cheap, especially the royal palace therefore removing the ‘royal’ feel.

Now even though the ‘cheapness’ of the entire thing stood out the most, other things also stood out underneath it as well. Things like a soundtrack that was drowning out the dialogue, casting Miltex Ene as a princess? (really, the age doesn’t fit sorry), no subtitles on dialogues in Igbo, haphazard directing, abundance of background noises, tacky hair beads, tacky sets, out-of-sync Bollywood style music interval (?), terrible extras… oh and since when are princesses auditioning to become queens? (let’s not mention the cheap raggedy things they had on in the name of royal attire)

I’m going to end this with a question? Was it just me or was Walter Anga not very convincing as a deformed child?