This Week In(side) Nollywood — Issue 5
Mildred Okwo's neo-noir thriller is finally on a streamer. At the same time, Brotherhood is now playing in cinemas nationwide, and of course, no Nigerian film is an Oscar contender.
This Week in(side) Nollywood is a witty recapitulation of the significant events in the industry this week. While you were busy chasing the bag during the week, Nollywood was cooking! Here are the things you missed.
La Femme Anjola has a new home: Last March, Rita Dominic introduced a new kind of femme fatale to us with the film. After its cinema run, we have been praying for it to land on a global streaming platform and it has finally happened.
You can now stream it on Amazon Prime. Who says prayers don’t get answered?
The film follows a Lagos big boy and stockbroker who falls in love with a mysterious woman. Anjola is married to a gangster who owns a nightclub where she does live performances.
Nigerian films no deserve Oscar: We didn’t say it—please don’t kill the messenger. The committee selecting films for the International Oscar category has said nothing met the standard. We can’t say we are surprised because it is the Oscars.
The committee gave very interesting reasons and it is not from our mouth you will hear about the Oba’s wife. Read for yourself.
Brotherhood is finally out: The food Jade Osiberu and her team have been cooking is finally in the cinemas. In case you haven’t heard, the goal is for Brotherhood to make one billion naira.
How will this happen? Well, it’s not magic o. You must go see it, but not alone, carry your girlfriend and side chick. Obviously, not at the same time. This way, you spend more and Nollywood makes more money. #SupportNollywood.
The Woman King is winning, maybe: Viola Davis has been begging everybody to go see this film and the reviews have been positive.
Last weekend, the film topped the Nigerian box office with a substantial N85.10million domestic debut.
Let’s see how much more it can rack up.
If you feel overwhelmed by all that is happening in the cinema this month, remember we warned you beforehand that it is a September to remember.
September 30th Choke!: We are not even whining you. Two films are debuting in the cinema that day. One of them is Choke with Chimezie Imo playing a layered character with a dark side. The film stars Kanayo Kanayo and there’s a very horror vibe to it, you see why you have to watch it? Oya check the trailer.
He is in frequent pain and is given hope to live healthy until his parents make a foolish decision that causes the chance to disappear.
You should see it but if you can’t, check the next line.
Anikulapo is coming: And no, it is not the Fela biopic you desperately want to see. Nollywood doesn’t have the money for that yet.
The is a Kunle Afolayan film that sees him return to the stories around Yoruba mythology that made him great. It will debut on Netflix and in select cinemas on September 30.
Anikulapo’s theatrical run will be distributed by Genesis Pictures which seems to be Nollywood’s filmmakers' favorite distributor at the moment.
You can see the movie on Netflix so you have space to do other things.
Blackberry Babes (2022 version) is on the way: Did you watch Blackberry babes or any of those early 2000-Nollywood films showing Nigerian women turning up? If you are craving those days back, there is a new show that might work for you. This analogy is not our own, blame Iroko Critic.
Naija Bad Babes will premiere on October 1. The 10-episode reality series will debut on a new service called NollyTV and the subscription is small money. Would you watch it?
Ehen, Dika Ofoma has a new film coming: Yup, that Dika, the troublesome Nollywood critic on Twitter. He has been experimenting with filmmaking and seems to be quite good at it. Ofoma has two short films on Youtube; one of them, The Way Things Happen, is an excellent drama about a lady who struggles to accept the death of her lover.
His latest project is called A Japa Tale. It follows a young couple with conflicting life goals, but still trying to make their relationship work. Ah, the great argument between couples on going abroad in search of greener pastures or staying to serve the fatherland.
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We are looking forward to coming back with great news next week. Nollywood, please give us something to smile about.