Author: Timileyin Lary

As the first act opens up and you feel the intensity of battle, along with the vigor of Bashorun Ga’a’s soldiers, you are left with a singular feeling – I am in for one heck of a story. Bolanle Austen-Peters manages to craft a consistently intense atmosphere in a movie that will not be easily forgettable due to its portrayal of the Yoruba pre-colonial political system and the masterful performances by the cast. From the A-list line-up, to the intensity of the plot, to the historical significance, House of Ga’a is an invigorating cultural statement, the first of its kind…

In A Father’s Love, Sebastian Ukwa tells the story of David Nwachukwu (David Jones David) and his family as they try to survive in the city of Lagos as a lower-class family with one too many problems. Their problems compound with the arrival of a surprise baby who was abandoned in David’s taxi car by a mystery passenger. Marking the latest project in the First Features Initiative, A Father’s Love is a curious attempt at capturing the essence of fatherhood. Against the introductory backdrop of their family issues, David’s role as the head of the home is established. He…

Biodun Stephen makes another intriguing directorial statement with her latest release, Momiwa. The director has developed a filmography known for portraying the ties of family and relationships. Her strength as a filmmaker in Momiwa shines through her ability to use the titular character as the core that establishes the entire film albeit to mixed results. Momiwa tells the story of a family bonded by mutual affection and shared trauma. Naeto (Uzor Arukwe) is a single father who has to raise his children alone when his wife leaves him during financial misfortunes. Luckily for him, Momiwa, also known as Chinonso (Blessing…

True to its name, It Blooms in June tells the story of a relationship between a father and daughter pair that increasingly gets emotionally complex until their dynamic reaches a head on a specific day in June. Korede Azeez makes a strong directorial feature debut in a movie that one could describe as a firm but steady unfolding of the heart’s grip. As portrayed by Femi Jacobs, Lanre Akande is a widower who raises his only daughter alone after the death of his wife. He is burdened with guilt, blaming himself for her death and vowing to never let anything…