Drawing Strength

It’s yet another case of good intentions gone absolutely wrong in Dimbo Atiya’s “Drawing Strength”.

Drawing Strength tells the story of a successful architect who seems to have strong Christian values on the surface, but underneath it all she is hiding a secret and lying to all those around her. Eventually, the inevitable occurs and the truth comes out and she is faced with the difficult task of redeeming herself.

If first impressions were all a movie was made of then this would be a five star film right off the bat. The shots and cinematography really had me questioning whether this was shot in Lagos or a more sane city – like maybe Accra (yes, judge me!). And that ambience continues throughout. From the sets to the costumes to the picture quality, it really felt very Shirley Frimpong Manso a la “Adams Apples“, but that’s about where that comparison ends. This is because while Adams Apples actually stars actors, this stars people reciting numerous lines from scene to scene.

Asides from the beautiful shots, one solid reason to see this movie is 54 minutes in when Sophie’s character is confronted with her lies. That singular moment of massive failure in conveying any kind of genuine emotion might make you want to quit the movie and instead watch pre-k kids recite a nursery rhyme – the odds are they probably have more raw talent. Much of the performances in this movie involves just going through the motions and depending on beauty.

The story itself does a poor job of establishing any of its pivotal aspects. On one hand, the character of Rufus is supposed to be scary and a threat but he never once comes off as threatening. The threat that our major character faces and the backlash she stands to receive, really also doesn’t seem very life shattering because there are many conceivable ways in which she can deny it and regain her life. Hence, it’s hard to invest in conflict that doesn’t even exist.

Having said all that, at least the movie is pretty.