Today’s Fiyin Gambo and Yemi Morafa-directed screenplay, The Wait, is adapted from Yewande Zaccheaus’ religious book, Waiting Room. This is a movie that is both inspiring, emotional, and sure to tug at the heartstrings. But, is there more to it or that is all viewers get?
The Wait trails the lives of different families and individuals as they make their way through ups and downs while using faith as a beacon of hope in this tale of perseverance and salvation.
Family issues, the travails of fertility and career path difficulties are some of the issues this screenplay tables while telling its story.
The Wait gives viewers great cinematographic quality. There is crisp, clear picture quality and the lighting creates the mood for each scene.
Saying the acting is top-notch would be an understatement. The actors executed gobsmacking performances. The star of the show is Nse Ikpe Etim as Dr. Nara. Nse has been one of those actresses of immense talents that has been a bit typecast recently. It’s good to see her break out of that role. Generally, there is a certain naturalness in the way the actors translate their emotions that moves the audience. Even down to the cameo appearance Joke Silva made as a dissatisfied mother-in-law is still downright outstanding.
Although the general theme may seem cliché or overplayed, the storyline does well to make the entire movie feel as authentic as possible and what is truly exceptional is how these individuals’ stories intertwine. The seamless transition from story to story makes this movie easy to follow and enjoy.
Because of how real the lives of the actors feel, the entire movie is relatable and that is a major selling point. Most viewers know someone or perhaps they are the someone facing one or more of the difficulties that are discussed in this movie. Seeing a screenplay that is relatable builds a sense of connection on an emotional level. Whether the movie is great or not so great, its viewer tends to enjoy it a little bit more than usual. This connection is a crucial ingredient to the success of the story.
Of course, it can’t all be sweet, there has to be a little bit of sourness in the mix, one of which is the big question mark in the way The Wait is concluded. It is unexciting and leaves a lot of events unexplained, which is quite a let-down after sitting through more than two hours of runtime. At this point, Nollywood fans might need to unite because more often than not, the end always leaves audiences feeling cheated. Totally dissatisfactory.
Some scenes are a bit tacky; it feels as though they keep switching things up and leaving the viewers confused. And then there are a few scenes that The Wait could have totally been released without. Completely unnecessary and added zero value to the movie as a whole. It slowed the pace of the movie to almost sleepy and took away from an otherwise better than average film.
While The Wait may not be flawless, it is unique, real and possesses qualities that aren’t present in most modern-day movies.
Looking for a screenplay to shake up your emotions and perhaps kindle your faith for the weekend? Watch The Wait now on Netflix.
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.
