It Blooms In June

With a title like It Blooms In June, a uniqueness that piques curiosity and suggests originality in its storytelling is emitted. Audiences will feel they’re about to be drawn into a world with depth and complexity, but this coming-of-age story doesn’t offer that.

It Blooms In June tells the story of Mira Akande (played by Susan Pwajok), a seventeen-year-old girl who has lived a sheltered life with her father (Femi Jacobs) after her mom’s passing. As she prepares for college in the summer, a friendship that she cultivates with the boy next door, Ebisinde, threatens to rip apart father and daughter.

There are several key elements a great coming-of-age story should possess. The most important of all is a relatable and interesting protagonist. Unfortunately, Mira lacks this essential quality. She’s sheltered in a way that most people may not be able to relate to. The portrayal by Susan Pwajok doesn’t help matters. Mira also doesn’t undergo a profound character development, we watch her for two hours, and at the end, she mostly remains the same with no transformation or distinct identity.

In terms of relationships, Mira is entangled in two significant ones. Her dynamic with her father is characterized by a protective but isolating environment he’s created. Her father feels guilty that his unavailableness contributed to his wife’s passing, in turn, he’s dedicated his life to loving and being there for his daughter. This protective bubble keeps her sheltered to her detriment. Although they’ll benefit from separation, the love between them is apparent. Ebisinde (played by Kem Ajieh Ikechukwu) is used as fuel to bring tension between Mira and her dad. Herein lies the biggest problem with this movie. There’s no chemistry between Susan Pwajok and Kem Ajieh Ikechukwu. Kem bites and licks his lips then recites his line like he’s reading off a grocery list and calls it a day. Leaving Susan, who also isn’t competent, to carry much of the bulk of their chemistry. With how deadpan his lines sound on arrival, by the time he delivers his love declaratory monologue, it lacks any sense of urgency or emotion.

The relationship between the adults (Mira’s dad and Ebisinde’s mom) is portrayed with more finesse, possibly due to the experience that both actors have. As Lanre’s shell gently slips off, we’re happy to see that he’s finally allowing someone else into his life. Joanna (Kiki Omeili) is also a lovable character, and even though we’re not given profound reasons to root for them (due to a lack of deeper exploration), it hurts a little that the story chose to dispose of their relationship in favour of their kids. This decision is unwise though, the distance factor will terribly ruin whatever the kids could have. And also, seeing as Mira will finally be getting her freedom, there’s no guarantee that the things she’ll learn and unlearn will be beneficial to her and Ebisinde.

It Blooms In June also suffers from pacing issues. The beginning elicits hesitancy, leaving one anxious to wait for the meat of the movie to arrive. This aura doesn’t really reduce as the movie proceeds, but the last part had an interesting element that made it stand out. Mira choosing to leave for Lagos on her own was a welcome change, and tying that to a robbery scene effectively highlights her naiveté which was true to her character.

Several lingering thoughts and questions also arise. How did Ebisinde manage to capture photos from those angles while riding a camel with Mira? Additionally, why would a child express a desire to share something with their parent, only to retract it later without the parent probing further? This seems especially significant given the relationship dynamic between Mira and her father.

Moreover, there’s a persistent feeling that It Blooms In June might have been better suited as a web series. The format, performances, and storytelling could potentially thrive in that medium. While this isn’t to discredit the quality of productions that web series have, there’s a level of grace that can be afforded as opposed to a movie on Prime Video.

The soundtrack that supports this movie is uninspiring and bland. However, there is a saving grace in the form of a love ballad featured in a live performance. Even the inclusion of Ladipoe and Simi’s ‘Know You‘ doesn’t help, as its placement within the film feels questionable.

In the end, It Blooms In June would leave viewers questioning its missed opportunities and unfulfilled promises. Despite Mira’s journey towards independence and self-discovery, the film falls short of delivering the profound transformation expected in a coming-of-age story, with the lack of relatability and chemistry among characters also hindering it. As it stands, the movie’s potential remains unfulfilled, as it failed to “grace our lenses with a dazzling beauty”, hence only leaving a sense of disappointment rather than satisfaction.