Understanding that fixing the pieces of a puzzle appear much easier from the sides than from the middle is bliss. Ignoring this will keep you on the puzzle for hours unending. Once you grasp this analogy, you’re either ready or will never be to see this Nollywood flick, Thorn by Austin Faani Eke Productions.
The Thorn movie trailer. Credit: Wild Eye/YouTube
It is exceptional to employ a complex plot for a movie only if it can follow a design suitable for your target audience. This movie is critical about the pertinent issues surrounding upbringing and parental/ environmental influence on children. If you are familiar with the endless nature/nurture debate, then you understand that nurture (environment or immediate surrounding) has a more effective way of sculpting individual behaviour. Now, this is the message in the story.
I bring you a brief and all-encompassing synopsis. The events that surround the lives of Cherchi who goes by Cherry (Chacha Eke) and her sister, Munachi (Susan Echa), were deeply chaotic and are products of unfriendly environments. Raised by their wayward father and aunt in a dysfunctional family, Cherry inculcated dubious behaviour. And eventually growing up and watching the extravagant lifestyle of Shaniqua (Betty Okafor), her father’s mistress, Cherry adopted the terrible habits of smoking, fighting, and bizarre reactions while thriving in anger and pain. And because of how unfair life was, we, just like Cherry, must shoulder the consequences of our actions even if our behaviour were not formed deliberately.
I must say, however, that the role of karma should not be overemphasised as it may only be a social construct. Realistically, only the people that have a great conscience suffer the ripple effects of being bad. Too many times, wicked people go scot-free and manipulate their punishments to suit them. Though this movie did not play in the direction of this harsh truth.
Ironically, following the story line, we saw the role of personal choice as pivotal to the formation of character. Nachi started out in the same environment as Cherry. But in the worst scenario, where Chris’ friend rudely catcalled Nachi, she remained virtuous. She was obviously going through hard times that could have changed her negatively but she chose virtue over vice. This begs the question: Is empathising with Cherry’s situation objective?
The production of this movie is superb while the narrative is impressively educative. It moves the average mind to be critical of psychological issues. Chacha Eke deliberately passed the information of her bipolar disorder through the character of Shaniqua. Mental and psychological problems are easily downplayed and dismissed in the Nigerian society. Considering that the average Nigerian has additional minutes of madness, the populace does not have much regard for the special needs of the bipolar. Creating this awareness not only makes Chacha Eke resourceful but also as a highly skilled, excellent actor in Nollywood.
The use of storytelling is also superb. Foreshadowing and flashbacks constitute a great technique for keeping viewers glued to their screens. However, like I said in the beginning, the plot could have been less complex considering the typical consumer. The regular Nollywood person (viewer) would want to take less time to grasp what they watch and this movie does not permit that. You require full attention to not just enjoy the movie but also assimilate the poignant themes.
In addition, psychology is an intricate part of understanding behaviour as presented in this movie. We noticed that Chris understood Cherry on the psychological level. This aided his coexistence with her as well as shaped his reactions to her shenanigans. In Shaniqua’s case, she was clearly out of control; she was sick! Cherry’s father did not have any control over this situation and that was where he could have drawn the line. However, his ignorance got the better part of him.
Finally and on a lighter note, who marries their sister’s ex? Particularly in the very hostile situation in which the family was, Munachi getting married to Chris was the poorest highlight of the movie. Asides this, the portrayal of salient realities in the movie is sublime and I highly recommend.
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.
