A first feature from two brothers up next.
This Is My Desire (Eyimofe)
Dir. Arie & Chuko Esiri / Dur. 114 mins
Strand:- Journey
In A Nutshell:- Factory technician Mofe and hairdresser Rosa plan their escapes from Nigeria to new lives in Europe in these two (slightly) linked tales.
The Good:- For me, this was almost the flipside to A Common Crime. While there are maybe only one or two key incidents that happen to Mofe and Rosa to put obstacles in the way of their path to a better life, their day to day lives are compelling in a way that A Common Crime’s protagonist wasn’t. There’s a nice naturalistic style to it as well - there’s no incidental music throughout and it doesn’t need it with the character’s lives being complex enough to provoke the needed emotional response. Jude Akuwudike and Temi Ami-Williams each project a sort of dignity and despair that shines through in their respective segments. The supporting characters are strong too with nice nuance to them - the landlord who links both stories is both helpful when it serves his needs and when it doesn’t; opportunistic maybe rather than completely unpleasant.
The Bad:- Honestly, can’t think of much on this one. I was caught up in it from start through to finish.
The Verdict:- Alternatively moving and heartbreaking, this portrait of two people trapped by circumstances and trying to escape to a better life by whatever means necessary is a strong debut from brothers Arie & Chuko Esiri. I’d definitely be interested in seeing what they come up with next.
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