Amarachi

I remain on this constant search to find a recent Asaba movie that is set in a village and manages to evoke those “Native Son“/”Heart of a Fighter” feelings within. Amarachi, on the other hand, was not it.

Amarachi is the story of a young lady who lives in the village and is in love with her village boyfriend, Ikenna. Ikenna loves football and that is all he knows. Her uncle disapproves of the union because he wants to marry her off to someone wealthy but Amarachi refuses and sticks beside Ikenna. Then in a sudden twist of fate Amarachi meets an international football recruiter, and while her uncle would like for her to marry him, she attempts to and succeeds in getting him to recruit Ikenna. Then a series of unfortunate events and a happy ending.

This movie has three parts. It also has approximately three story lines and ample opportunities to have been a ‘different’ and better film. I begin to sound like a broken record when I say things like “enough of the simplistic endings” or “pick one storyline and stick to it”. Both of those pleas were disregarded in this movie but enough about the ‘potential’….

The actual story in itself was entertaining enough. It was entertaining in the sense of have-it-playing-while-doing-some-other-work kind of way and not in a it-demands-all-of-your-attention-because-it-is-that-good way.

The joy of the movie was Chioma who plays Amarachi – a lively and energetic village girl who does not stand down for anyone. Mike Godson and Eve Esin also do a good job holding up their ends.

In conclusion, watch Amarachi because if you have to have something playing in the background. It’s definitely not top of the to-do list material but neither is it mind-numbingly painful.