Starring: Liz Benson, Jide Kosoko, Honour Felix

Synopsis:
A family often showered with gifts from a generous man soon realizes his ulterior motive is nothing more than an incessant desire for their fourteen year old daughter.

Review:
Damilola (Honour Felix), a young girl with dreams of becoming a doctor, is a model student that achieved straight A’s in school. Her father had been unemployed for three years but her wealthy neighbor, Alhaji (Jide Kosoko), an older man, fixed the problem by offering him a job. Little did they know, the only reason for Alhaji’s kindness was because his eyes had been feasting on Dami.

There was an opportunity when Alhaji tried to rape Dami but she got away and told her mother. The decision to confront him created a sticky situation because he had just saved the family from financial stress but it was something that had to be done.

Alhaji was apologetic and even admitted that he wanted to marry Dami. By the story’s end, Dami’s virginity was purchased, and a marriage took place, but happily ever after never came.

Let’s Talk. This movie had good intentions as it set out to bring awareness to the child bride situation that exists throughout the world. It’s another movie written by Chisom Juliet Okereke and I tend to watch her movies with a certain anticipation because some of her movies are indeed entertaining. This one was so-so but it quickly got to the point and got out.

The part of the story that didn’t jive was when Damilola’s mother sided with Alhaji. There’s a scene where she marched to his home to confront him about trying to rape her daughter and once he waved money in her face she decided that he would be allowed to rape her child but legally. Her attitude changed from A to Z way too quickly.

After minimal thought, she had no problem with an old man with a big ass pot belly, who, by the way, was older than her own husband, forcing himself on her fourteen year old girl. Cmon now. The role of the mother was in need of a rewrite. If she was uneducated and destitute then her rationalization may have been more feasible – not that any reason is acceptable for selling your child!

The father didn’t seem to have much say in the matter. You would think that he would have been the one to confront Alhaji but clearly money was thicker than blood. But hey, this is the reality. This is happening somewhere right now.

Also fuzzy was the scene where the hospital staff reprimanded the mother. That was out of line and unprofessional. I mean, what hospital does that? It made the story feel forced and manufactured.

Performances sufficed. No problems there. Sound was a little muffled in some areas.

But let’s not forget the issue of child brides. Underage marriages are real and it’s happening across the globe as a result of traditions and poverty. Young girls continue to be deprived of basic rights and their own choice of a mate. Here are some lyrics of a song that continuously played in the background:

Just a girl. How could she be your bride?
She should be her parent’s joy and pride.
Instead she’s been cast aside, left alone to die.
This is a sad, oh, this is a bad situation.
Something must be done. This is wrong.

The song says it all however, the movie wasn’t proficient in sharing statistics on the matter nor was it as profound as the movie “Dry” that tackled the same subject. Overall, it wasn’t the best story but it gets a pass for its social agenda. RECOMMEND