Source: Screenshot
I have loathed-okay, no, that's a strong word- disliked Nigerian movies for quite a long time now. And from what I know, I am not alone in this. The reason isn't far-fetched. From the sloppy movie productions to the poorly written scripts which often lack no climax and are filled with numerous holes that leave you hanging. In recent years, however, there seem to be a number of Nollywood movies that rise above the norm a bit. One such movie is the recently produced Kunle Afolayan film, A Naija Christmas.
Source: Screenshot
A Naija Christmas, released on the 16th December, 2021, was directed by Kunle Afolayan, and starred veteran actors and actresses such as Rachel Oniga, Mercy Johnson, Kunle Rémi, amongst others. I think the casting is great. The plot reveals the story of a Nigerian mother who is distressed that none of her three children have married so she can have grandchildren to play with(typical of a Naija mom), and sets an ultimatum for them to each bring her a befitting partner by Christmas with the family house up for grabs to the first child to do so. This sets off a competition between the sons that even breeds conflict among them. The movie ends with the peaceful resolution of all conflicts, great Christmas parties with the trademark party jollof rice and chicken, lots of very good music, and a beautiful lady brought home by the second son as a fiancée.
I would give the movie a 6.5 out of 10. It has wonderfully scripted comedic scenes, great cinematography and directing, decent lighting, with the actors obviously doing their best to give their characters as much life as they can. The flow of the movie is also great, with the scenes blurring into one another seamlessly. All these tools were employed in a quest to bring to life the theme of the movie, a Naija Christmas. Perhaps, this trend would continue and be improved upon. Perhaps, this is the dawn of a new era.
Source: Screenshot
Folks traveling home, the aroma of jollof and fried rice escaping the pots. Fowls being sacrificed on the altar of human satisfaction, drinks of all sorts for everyone. That tailor that disappoints, the purchase of new regalia and adornments. What is a Naija Christmas without all these?
Here is a link to the movie trailer.
