The Swallow movie is classic! It is very creative particularly because pulling off a 1980 milieu in 2022 never looked easier. This Kunle Afolayan-directed movie stars some of Nollywood’s best such as Eniola Akinbo, Ijeoma Grace Agu, Deyemi Okanlanwon, Eniola Badmus, and Chioma Akpotha, among others who all make the acting as well as the storyline very engaging, thereby bringing Sefi Attah’s ideas to life.
First, the societal menaces that don’t get as much publicity as they should, are the bedrock of this creative piece. Issues of drug peddling, though extremely risky, manage to stay under the carpet especially in a country like ours. Most times, we are only exposed to these issues when we see them online or personally encounter people involved. Other times, these notorious activities just go down low key with perpetrators undercover and many dead men walking with pills in their bellies. The fact that poverty is shamed in this part of the world (remember the song with the line, if you no get money, hide your face, which was, sadly, quite popular) has enhanced the fearlessness of the poor man who thinks he has nothing to lose. This is Rose’s (Ijeoma Grace Agu) reason for putting her life on the line and this is the point of this story.
A diligent scan of the ratings of this movie after seeing it shows that some people didn’t watch patiently. A quick judgment of the movie will make one miss out on the didactic side, although it took too long to make the point of the movie. One may easily lose interest before it gets to the best part.
Swallow official teaser. Credit: YouTube
Also, the movie shows dimensions to communal living and paints the picture of a typical African/Nigerian society. Following this depiction, we are presented with a plethora of ideas that don’t hold much water in trying to drive their point home. Too many societal issues presented with little efforts to either combat or condemn them. The movie did not also strike a balance between educating and entertaining viewers; hence, it became somewhat boring and lengthy.
The church scene particularly seems unimportant. Though it reflects religion as exploitative, it doesn’t do much to tackle the issue as Tolani (Niyola) didn’t convince her Christian colleague against the brainwashing nature of the church and the pastor. Also, Tolani’s use of “Ifa” on Mr. Lamidi Salako (Olusegun Remi) was spontaneous and confusing. Was it purely an act? Did the juju work? It seemed out of place. Plus, after fruitlessly trying to swallow, how did Tolani leave the drug trafficking picture? This is another loop in the story.
However, individual acting is highly commendable as the actors did very great jobs delivering their roles. Though the story doesn’t give us much to work with concerning the major theme being presented. Tolani’s switch from Yoruba to English and back was a good blend that underscored the Yoruba/Nigerian tradition.
Culture and tradition as portrayed, glorified the Nigerian people/society, making it look rich while simultaneously elevating the plot.
Meanwhile, Rose’s character, as crucial to the narrative as it was, was trivialised by needless scenes. She didn’t have to convince Tolani up to three times to try to swallow the drugs. She also acted too fearlessly for a first timer; that act was too much of an exaggeration. Nevertheless, we see her relationship with OC as an effective means to expose the ills of patriarchy. This is a poignant representation of the terrible situations jobless and needy women endure in the hands of privileged men. Her death also mirrors the harsh reality of so many people that died trafficking drugs, re-emphasising how dangerous drug trafficking is.
Finally, the denouement of the movie did not do justice to the storyline. Rose’ death did not cause any uproar or concern. This caused the case of drug trafficking to be transformed into a sub-plot rather than the major issue. And unless there is another part yet to be released, we may have to interpret the story’s end as we please. In my opinion, the movie could have easily been a stage play.
Clara Gaiya, an entrepreneur, writes from 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.
