Tiwa’s Baggage

Clearly, Russia must be missing one of its missiles because it has somehow managed to make its way to Bayray McNwizu’s belly in the name of a baby bump. I think we can all agree that that baby bump, especially in the first few scenes, was ridiculously unreal. However, I cannot tell if it got better or if I got used to it as the movie went by but I will say this, the bump does not take away from the movie.

Tiwa’s baggage is the story of a pregnant and single lady whose boyfriend rejects her after he finds out that she’s pregnant and that she has decided to keep the baby. Since he is not ready for a child yet, she is faced with the challenge of giving birth to and raising the child on her own. Her aunt finds out about the pregnancy and also kicks her out and the movie opens as she is trying to settle in to her new life.

This is something that I first noticed in “Meet the In-Laws“, and thankfully more nollywood movies are beginning to embrace this. It’s the concept of starting a story where the storyline begins. The story does not start when she meets her baby-daddy, it doesn’t start when they fall in love sans pregnancy and neither does it start when he rejects her. It’s the story of her struggle as a single mother and it starts with her struggle as a single mother with all other details added on over time as necessary.

The movie does a great job of telling the story that it sets out to tell with great production, decent performances and magnificent music (anyone else spot Bisola’s “Turn out the Lights” in there? It almost felt like an ode to Ovy’s Voice considering that it’s made by the same person). In the moment, Bayray and Kunle do a convincing job of creating these two characters and presenting them to the audience. It was funny watching Kunle’s character go all “the man upstairs” and “he will never give you more than you can handle”, and then the first sign of a greenlight he gets they are both laying in bed sans clothing — ok o. 

You fall for Kunle Remi in this movie but not completely. I’m ready to see him in more. Not in the sense of ‘many more’ movies but in a role that requires him to do more, show more, be more. A movie without music to hide behind so that we can see what he can really do. Bayray on the other hand sells the role of the distraught mother and takes the audience along with her so you feel her confusion when she is trying to decide.

It’s a very well made, sweet little story about small people and the big decisions that they have to make.

SOUNDTRACK

Turn Out The Light – Bisola Aiyeola

First Try – Tracy Chapman