Farmer’s Bride
Paul Sambo, Esther Audu,
After a broken relationship, two souls find themselves rebuilding the pieces of their lives on a farm in the middle of nowhere. But even life in a far off wilderness cannot keep them away from the darkness of the past they abandoned
The afros
Tola Taye Balogun
Osang Romanus
Mathew O. Wengs
2014
Visuals, Cinematography, Location
Story, Acting, Directing, Audio, Soundtrack,
Let me summarise what I’m going to say in over almost 500 words, in one short and sweet sentence. This is dry.
The plot synopsis is interesting even though there isn’t much originality. There are a thousand and one romance novels with this exact same storyline and a thousand and one movies except they are done better. The farmer after being badly burnt in love has no recourse but to advertise for a wife who has a dark secret of her own. The characters are unlikeable, the farmer is abrasive and angry all the time without endearing himself, the wife keeps lying and has little to no personality. The relationship goes from zero to a hundred, there are no scenes showing a growing relationship just ‘I hate you’ -scene change- ‘I love you’.
There was absolutely no chemistry between them to even show that they were husband and wife, I understand that things are meant to be awkward at first but it was awkward ALL the time. What makes it painful is just how slow it all is. I kid you not, there is an entire scene where they kill a chicken, boil the water, pluck the chicken and cook it, in detail, in one long shot. This movie is two and a half hours long, when it could have been an hour. There is an extra one and a half hour in this. The film just would not end. The locations do not vary that much neither do the outfits which makes it seem even more monotonous. It was the most boring and frustrating thing I have watched.
Perhaps it would have worked better with more energized actors. Paul Sambo was just angry all the time, he showed no range. It is not clear whether that’s the direction he was asked to go or whether that was his own interpretation. Esther Audu was better, although at times it looked like she was trying to hide a smile or she was actually smiling. And screaming. Her role was part shrill screaming. There were barely any other actors in it, or any that impressed barring the lawyer. The ex-husband was laughable.
The audio was horrendous, sometimes the actors could not be heard for a long time. This only adds to the frustration of the movie. There are so many things I cannot comment on because I don’t know what was happening. Lighting was too dark, the sex scene made me cry with laughter and the fight scenes were badly choreographed. The soundtrack was one note, and the scoring was inappropriate for most scenes. Props were shameful, one necklace was supposed to be inscribed but it was written on with marker. You don’t want to know about the afros.
In conclusion, save yourself from two and a half hours of frustration, ear straining and boredom. You should see my notes, just endless repetitions of ‘why won’t this film end?’ And I still have no explanation for the afros.
The Other Wife
Tripod
I feel it is important that you indicate in your reviews where viewers can actually watch the movie. For example if the movie is on irokotv, then you state it , so that others can have the opportunity to watch the movie and can locate where they can find it.
By the way I love the fact you give honest reviews, but in some of your reviews especially towards the Ghanaian movies I can’t help but sense a bit of bias and unfairness as you seem to compare the movies with Bollywood movies or some ancient nollywood movie produced long ago. This is quite unfair, surely you must know the Ghanaian film industry is young compared to nollywood, and you must give as credit. I mean so what if some of the storylines from Bollywood are replicated, film makers do it all the time even in Hollywood they copy storylines the only difference is that they acknowledge it and give credit by stating it is a remake of this movie made in1986 and so on.
All I am saying it is totally out of order to compare Ghanaian movies to Bollywood, for a young industry we have done well, l mean they have amazing actors, sets, directors and they are no doubt nollywood’s main competition in Africa in the film industry. So please take it easy.
Besides when Nigerian movies repeat storylines I have not ever heard you make any comparison.
Please I want us to unite and work with each other and give constructive criticism, not show favouritism for us to become a strong united force in west Africa and subsequently the whole continent.
By the way love the work you do here. Keep it up.
I feel it is important that you indicate in your reviews where viewers can actually watch the movie. For example if the movie is on irokotv, then you state it , so that others can have the opportunity to watch the movie and can locate where they can find it.
By the way I love the fact you give honest reviews, but in some of your reviews especially towards the Ghanaian movies I can’t help but sense a bit of bias and unfairness as you seem to compare the movies with Bollywood movies or some ancient nollywood movie produced long ago. This is quite unfair, surely you must know Ghanaian film industry is young compared to nollywood, and you must give as credit. I mean so what if some of the storylines from Bollywood are replicated, film makers do it all the time even in Hollywood they copy storylines the only difference is that they acknowledge it and give credit by stating it is a remake of this movie made in1986 and so on.
All I am saying it is totally out of order to compare Ghanaian movies to Bollywood, for a young industry we have done well, l mean they have amazing actors, sets, directors and they are no doubt nollywood’s main competition in Africa in the film industry. So please take it easy.
Besides when Nigerian movies repeat storylines I have not ever heard you make any comparison.
Please I want us to unite and work with each other and give constructive criticism, not show favouritism for us to become a strong united force in west Africa and subsequently the whole continent.
By the way love the work you do here. Keep it up.