I watched this movie with an open mind and Áfàméfùnà: An Nwa Boi Story hooked me right away. The opening scene with a dead body amidst a lavish party promised a suspenseful mystery, it felt like we were in for an exciting ride. But it didn’t take long before it quickly revealed a common issue in many Nigerian films: PACING. This is where the narrative throws you into the deep end with a shocking twist before the characters and their world are fully established. This leaves the story feeling like it's built on shaky ground, struggling to balance the initial intrigue with a deeper exploration of the characters, the theme and the overall movie. This was unfortunately the case with this movie, The sudden shift from a simulated football field to an event, and then abruptly to a party in the opening scenes, has the potential to be disorienting for viewers. The disjointed editing may leave them feeling confused and disconnected from the story. Although the reasoning behind this sequence may become clearer as the film progresses, it runs the risk of disrupting the viewer's engagement and leaving them feeling unsettled. As a filmmaker, I aim to delve deeper than what the average audience might perceive. However, even to the casual viewer, this movie may not offer much to discern.
You know at first I was curious about the dynamic between Afam and Paul in the film, Because of how much power and control paul had over Afam, I thought to myself “surely there is more to this story” but that was simply a mere wish, the extent of Paul's power and control over Afam raised questions in my mind, leading me to believe there was more depth to their relationship. However, this hope was ultimately dashed. The filmmakers seemed to force whatever they were concealing, exaggerating it to such an extent that when the truth was finally revealed, I was left underwhelmed, wondering if that was all there was to it, I was left asking “Is that it?”
Paul's character felt like a product of lazy writing, as his actions as an adult strayed far from the identity established for him as a young man. I agree that, circumstances can prompt individuals to behave in unexpected ways, even leading them to act out of character, and while the circumstances undeniably pushed him towards villainy, the transformation seems unsettlingly drastic. They literally not only turned his character to a very unwise villain but also depicted him as mentally adrift.
And Afam was nothing but an enabler.Regrettably, I couldn't fully connect with or root for Afam as the protagonist, as the movie lacked consistent character development throughout. Additionally, the theme of brotherhood was overplayed, becoming repetitive and ultimately dull.
What I did appreciate about Áfàméfùnà was how it provided a glimpse into the business history of the Igbo people, skillfully interweaving culture and the complexities of the nwa boi system with authentic nuance.
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