La Femme Anjola

La Femme Anjola: Mildred Okwo’s Neo-Noir Drama is Almost Perfect

Many times, I’ve witnessed Nollywood filmmakers attempting to impose foreign elements and tropes onto Nigerian stories. Unfortunately, the results are often catastrophic, if not outright disastrous. However, in Mildred Okwo‘s La Femme Anjola, a sophisticated collaboration with seasoned writer Tunde Babalola, the fusion of a Nigerian narrative with the Noir genre gives rise to a truly brilliant creation that captivates any audience.

Crafted by veteran scriptwriter Tunde Babalola and helmed by Mildred Okwo, the film features stellar performances from Rita Dominic, Nonso Bassey, Chris Iheuwa, and others. La Femme Anjola made its debut in March 2021, premiering on The Audrey Silva Company’s website and in cinemas. The  movie earned four nominations at the 2021 African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) for Best Actor and Actress in Leading Roles, Best Sound, and Best Nigerian Film. It has also garnered praise from viewers for its exceptional plot and cinematography.

To be honest, after enduring years of being mired in its own development challenges, director Mildred Okwo’s film is unquestionably worth the wait. It not only deserves all the accolades it has received but also merits even more.

Set in Lagos, La Femme Anjola – French for “The Woman Anjola” – is a Neo-noir drama which which tells the story of a young investment banker, Dejare (Nonso Bassey). Dejare, a young and successful Lagos Big Boy with a thriving career as a stockbroker and an engagement to the love of his life, yearns for excitement beyond his routine life. Discovering an opportunity as a saxophonist at The Basement bar, he auditions and secures a spot in the band. Excitement fills him, but little does he know that his world is on the verge of a tumultuous transformation.

Soon, Dejare finds himself unable to ignore the palpable sexual tension with Anjola, his bandleader. Despite initial objections to his musical style, Anjola, a married woman, makes advances that he tries to resist. However, his longing for her leads him to redirect that energy into a more aggressive sensuality with his fiancée, who becomes suspicious.

Assuring his fiancée that everything is in order, Dejare succumbs to Anjola’s charm, initiating an affair. The stakes rise when Anjola’s husband, Odera, a formidable gang leader, reveals his violent tendencies. Dejare, aware of the danger, continues the affair even after his fiancée discovers and leaves him. As Dejare remains attached to Anjola, she unveils her oppressive marriage, driven by her husband’s wealth and influence. Determined to break free, she reveals her plan to Dejare—killing her husband. The ensuing events unfold wildly, involving danger and unexpected twists and counter twists.

Despite being aware of the film’s genre, the opening manages to deceive with its slow, brooding tone that skillfully transitions into a full cascade of actions. Similar to the film’s music, it adeptly builds up at the right moments, leading to a crescendo ending. The team demonstrates evidence of thorough story development, with well-planned twists and countertwists, albeit occasionally convoluted.

La Femme Anjola gets nearly everything right. The casting of Rita Dominic as Anjola stands out as a major strength, as she convincingly embodies the role of the beautiful, witty, and bold seductress. Nonso Bassey complements Rita Dominic exceptionally well, contributing to the film’s overall success.

Numerous phenomenal Nollywood actresses could have been considered when discussing the casting of the Femme fatale for the film. Frankly speaking, Rita Dominic might not be the immediate choice for anyone, but she delivers her role so expertly that the conversation shifts to whether any other actor in Nollywood can surpass her performance.

While her portrayal in Izu Ojukwu’s ‘76 sets an exceptionally high bar, this performance comes as a very close second. The chemistry between her and newcomer Nonso Bassey is executed so adeptly that it might be challenging to find another femme-fatale-lover-boy performance that surpasses theirs. The cinematography and lighting don’t appear overbearing or extravagant, ensuring they don’t distract from the film and its agenda.

La Femme Anjola achieves a noteworthy feat by adhering faithfully to classic elements of the  genre with several tropes, while ingeniously infusing an African essence. This cultural transformation is vividly evident in the meticulously crafted costume designs, captivating make-up, production designs, and the set designs. 

Despite a convoluted ending that almost takes away from the overall offering of the film, La Femme Anjola stands out as an elegant cinematic triumph and ranks among the finest offerings from Nollywood.