Biodun Stephen is here with another offering. Strangers stars Lateef Adedimeji as Adetola, the main character, Bolaji Ogunmola, Jide Kosoko, Nonso Odogwu, and a host of more of Nollywood’s stars.
It follows the story of a young man told in a first-person narrative style, as he navigates his idyllic life in a village untouched by civilization. But even in this rural setting, he is faced with insurmountable challenges and events that reshape his worldview.
This inspirational, faith-based story is inspired by true-life events. The acting cannot be faulted.
Strangers is such a beautifully produced film that it is a joy to watch. The story is told over decades from a bird’s-eye view that encapsulates the immense suffering of one who has a great future ahead of him. The audience knows exactly where the story is heading. There are no surprises in this movie but Strangers is all about the journey anyway. Not the destination. The first half of the movie is deeply emotional and will pull on the heartstrings of the audience.
The second half of the movie loses steam a bit. It does begin to feel a little piled on and a lot contrived. The feeling of, “ah ah, only person?!” takes away from the very realistic portrayal of deep suffering. Some areas are a bit over-acted, which edges a deeply sad scene into vaguely histrionic territory where a subtle touch might have been more heartbreaking.
To give the director, Biodun Stephen his due, each character is fully formed and given room to shine without over flogging their personas. The writing by Anthony Eloka Ogbu is also top-notch.
If you are a fan of faith-based stories, this movie is definitely for you. It just opened in the cinemas on the 29th of April. Go check it out.
Didi Dan-Asisah is an art enthusiast and critic. She lives in Lagos.
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
