Half Heaven

Half Heaven tells the story of Kizito (Seehofer Roland), a self righteous, legalist preacher who is mandated to take a month-long soul winning trip to Mboko, a dreaded and godless ghetto, to validate his eligibility for ordination. To prove his worthiness for ordination, Kizito reluctantly accepts help from Bisona (Syndy Emade), a woman with a controversial background, an infamous prostitute. As they form an unexpected bond, Kizito discovers that Mboko holds personal significance beyond being a mere assignment destination.

In the heart of Cameroon’s International Feature contender, the film invites contemplation on our shared humanity, urging us to reflect on whether to escape darkness or illuminate it, exploring the transformative power of understanding and compassion.

The story’s choice to kick off with the danger in Mboko is gripping, setting the stage for an engaging plot. The pacing adds to the suspense, keeping the audience hooked. While Kizito’s external struggles are well-established, his internal battles could be portrayed more clearly. It’s important for emotional investment to have a vivid picture of his trauma, but the blurry and glossed-over images leave us wanting a clearer understanding of what haunts him.

The unclear depiction of Kizito’s character’s internal struggles makes Bisona’s character development shine more, making her more interesting than the protagonist. Syndy Emade’s authentic portrayal brings depth to Bisona, and it’s her emotive performance that keeps us invested in the story. Without Bisona’s character, Kizito’s journey would have been more ambiguous.

As we delve into the main theme of the film, Mboko doesn’t turn out as perilous as the initial hook implied. This revelation diminishes the curiosity and sense of danger established initially, revealing Mboko as a town with moral decay rather than immediate danger.

The film wisely uses montage during dull moments, adding commendable interest when the story becomes monotonous. It took about an hour to truly connect with Kizito’s journey, perhaps because we started to see his humanity, aligning with the idea that people care more about how much you care than how much you know. As mentioned before, the beginning piques curiosity but doesn’t truly engage until Bisona’s character was fully established

Chidi Mokeme’s character, Grand Tifa, brings a heightened sense of urgency to the film, a move that could have been introduced earlier, considering the prolonged second act. Tifa’s entrance adds the layers of intrigue promised at the start, enhancing the story’s depth.

The film’s drawback lies in its sound design, where the soundtrack often competes rather than complementing and enhancing the emotions of the scenes. Embracing “the power of silence in film” during specific moments could have made the experience more engaging. But the film’s cinematography is outstanding, displaying intentionality and purpose in every frame and angle, particularly evident in the story’s hook. It effectively serves the narrative, unlike the sound design, avoiding any competition and instead enhancing the overall experience.

Syndy Emade’s portrayal of Bisona stands out as the most impressive performance in the film. Chidi Mokeme, while delivering his part, struggled with a character lacking depth, particularly due to an inadequately crafted buildup to his introduction. For a villainous role like his, a more foreshadowed sense of danger leading to his reveal could have heightened the audience’s fear of the unknown. Seehofer Roland, as Kizito, displayed nuanced acting, with moments of brilliance, especially when humbled by circumstances. Although his overall emotive performance was not consistently strong, he excelled in delivering punchy dialogue.

Half Heaven stands out in its narrative by revealing how a strict and self-righteous preacher like Kizito consistently depends on an infamous prostitute, Bisona, creating a striking contrast in their characters.

The film delves into the delicate balance between maintaining strict righteousness as a preacher and showing mercy to others. Additionally, Bela’s character arc is remarkably well-crafted, delivering an unexpected and skillfully executed plot twist.