Nollywood Film Club is a weekly (on Sundays) Twitter Space discussion that places Nollywood in focus. A chosen subject (film or topic) is analysed and critiqued by participating speakers and listeners.

In March, they discuss Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre, A Green Fever, The Kujus Again and Afamefuna. In the same month with an overwhelming number of Prime Video releases (aka dump), the club also convene to discuss the best and worst of those numerous releases.

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Here is our monthly recap of the films discussed in March.

Anikulapo: Rise of the Spectre

1. Anikulapo receives a mixed reception from the speakers, with some praising elements like the hairstyles, locations, and performances, while others criticize its pacing, character motivations, and plot development.
2. Actors like Owobo Ogunde, Bimbo Ademoye, and Kunle Remi receive praise for their performances. Mr. C even refers to Ademoye’s and Remi’s as career-best outings. Still on the acting, Vanessa notes that Ogunde as Bashorun comes off as subtle and calculative than an over-animated villain. But Nollywood Must Change doesn’t see anything noteworthy in the performance and thinks that people have only fallen for Bashorun because of Ogunde’s looks.
3. Viewers express frustration over missing plot elements and implausible scenarios, highlighting problems with its storytelling. Still, Otas and Rotimi suggest that Bimbo Ademoye’s Arolake has the most compelling storyline in the series.
4. Many viewers find the timeline confusing (feeling like a broken record), with unnecessary filler scenes contributing to a lack of coherence and narrative focus. This contributes to an unnecessarily lengthy series. As Mrs. C notes, her prediction that the series would be a waste of time is right on point. Rotimi adds, “Some viewers could leave for a while, return and find out that they didn’t miss anything.”
5. There’s debate over whether a deep understanding of Yoruba culture is necessary to fully appreciate the film, with some viewers feeling excluded by the cultural references and allegories. This is one major reason to listen to this episode as Defense Minister Olayinka comes to Ankulapo’s rescue.
6. Concerns are raised about the quality of Kunle Afolayan’s recent titles, with some feeling that his works have been subpar lately. BadManTee says, “Kunle Afolayan seems stuck. He doesn’t invite new perspectives.”
7. BadManTee shares a theory that Arolake might just be THE Anikulapo.
8. There’s an overarching sense of disappointment and dissatisfaction among speakers, who feel that the Anikulapo series fails to live up to its potential and leaves a bitter taste in their mouths.
9. Pearl criticizes Yoruba Nollywood for indulging in stories without sufficient care for script quality, relying on a loyal audience base, and is frustrated because they seem to have the most investment opportunities.
10. “Is This Our Game of Thrones?” is one resounding question that permeates the discussion.
11. WKMUp can verify that Mrs. C’s predictions before the release of Anikulapo series are mostly accurate, making her the true winner. The trailer bored Mrs C so much that she didn’t have any expectations for the series beyond boredom. 10/10. Winner! During the February Prediction episode, she also guessed that the individual threads of Arolake and Saro wouldn’t be tied well together. She surely wins!

A Green Fever

1. Despite being low budget, Taiwo Egunjobi’s A Green Fever is praised for its high production values, including strong visuals, production design and intentional cinematography. A speaker notes, “The amount of value extracted from the budget is quite high.”
2. Viewers appreciate the casting choices and commend the actors for their efficient performances, particularly highlighting William Benson’s portrayal of Colonel Bashiru (whom Otas calls the only character that isn’t one-dimensional).
3. The film successfully captures the period it portrays, with commendations for its attention to detail and immersive atmosphere. But, Uchenna strongly disagrees and has a thread of points on mismatched time period details.
4. While some praise the sound quality and effective use of music, others find fault with the score, describing it as jarring or overdone.
5. Opinions vary on the effectiveness of the storytelling, with some praising its resourcefulness and others criticizing aspects such as pacing, dialogue, and character development.
6. Some viewers feel that the film’s pacing is slow and Wayne suggests that it could have been more effective as a 30-minute short film.
7. While there are elements of praise, there are also significant criticisms regarding various aspects of the film, including storytelling, characterization, and technical execution.
8. Nollywood Must Change questions the poor manner the filmmakers treat the female characters in their films, as also seen in All Na Vibes.
9. Mrs. C wonders what Nollywood would do when Darasimi Nadi grows up. Mr. C believes that Nadi and Toyin Oshinaike’s abilities were not fully utilized.
10. Oyinkan notes that A Green Fever has a coherent vision. That said, it is an improvement from All Na Vibes (Egunjobi’s previous film) for Mrs C.

NFC Breaking News: It Blooms in June is the best of Prime Video dump, Japa! isn’t recommended and Wrong Side of Love is a bittersweet romcom YouTube recommendation.

The Kujus Again

1. While some viewers find the acting cringeworthy and feel that ensemble actors are underutilized, others appreciate the performances and chemistry among the cast members, albeit with varying degrees of effectiveness.
2. There are criticisms of the film’s writing, with viewers describing it as ridiculous and feeling that the story lacked substance or direction, leading to a sense of emptiness and a lack of cohesion.
3. Some specific elements people enjoyed in The Kujus Again were Bisola Aiyeola’s costume and the presence of a shirtless Kunle Remi.
4. Many viewers feel that the film is unnecessary, with characters brought back without meaningful development or storyline progression, leaving the sequel underwhelming.
5. There was no pushback section!

Afamefuna

1. Viewers appreciate various aspects of Afamefuna, including the portrayal of the Igbo apprenticeship system, strong performances, and the warmth conveyed in the storytelling. While it feels like a hug a lot of times, anytime the film pulls Mr. C closer, some avoidable error “burps” in his face and pushes him away.
2. There is overall praise for the lack of Igbo stereotypes in the film. Afamefuna treats the characters with dignity.
3. The portrayal of the apprenticeship system in Afamefuna feels like a documentary in many instances rather than a nuanced and natural exploration.
4. Some viewers criticize certain aspects of the film’s execution, including inconsistencies in Igbo language dialect, unnecessary interrogation scenes, and lack of character development.
5. While many commend the performances of the cast, others express concerns about miscasting (like Atlanta Bridget Johnson), poor accent (Segun Arinze’s role), and underdeveloped character relationships. For example, the supposed big betrayal between Afam and Paulo isn’t a big thrill.
6. Criticisms are directed towards the film’s narrative structure, with complaints about unclear timelines.
7. While Stan Nze receives applause for what is a deserving role, Uchenna praises Nze’s special quality of having a tenderness to his ruggedness.
8. Viewers highlight technical flaws such as clumsy editing, cinematography, and scene blocking, which detract from the overall cinematic experience. Moreover, adequate film technique flair could have helped to distinguish between past and present timelines.
9. Several plot inconsistencies are noted, including unanswered questions about Afam’s teased background, unclear motivations, and illogical story elements like the recorded interrogation in Igbo.
10. Some viewers feel that the film’s runtime could have been shortened to improve pacing and eliminate unnecessary scenes, contributing to a tighter and more engaging narrative.
11. There is a huge question mark around Bridget Johnson’s character. Multiple speakers agree that she feels like a “throwaway character to merely service Paul and Afam’s story” for someone who was introduced quite strongly.
12. Despite the mostly positive elements, there’s a sense of missed potential in Afamefuna, with viewers expressing frustration over what could have been a compelling story but was hindered by narrative inconsistencies. “Bones of what could have been a compelling story are left on the table”
13. We might still have Kayode Kasum’s best film in Afamefuna for many viewers. Afamefuna saved Q1 of Nollywood releases.

My key lesson from March comes from Rotimi’s point during the Anikulapo space: Maybe our filmmakers need to make films and write stories in a way that works for the audience members to understand. As he said, these films often work for the makers but not for viewers who make up a larger number. And that’s what we have cinema language and rules for. They are rules to guide everyone. So, you don’t have to be explaining your film.

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