Starring: Rita Dominic, Femi Jacobs, Linda Ejiofor

Synopsis:  

A businessman is set to meet with a government official in order to gain an important contract but his appointment is postponed due to politics, game, and bribery.

Review:  

Makinde (Femi Jacobs) must make a presentation to the government minister in Abuja and return to his office with a deal. His company is in need of business and the contract is key to the tenure of the company. He has a set appointment with the minister and he travels from Lagos to Abuja to see him. He intends to return to Lagos on the same evening but his plans are intercepted by the unexpected. 

Makinde arrived at the Abuja government entrance just in time to see security escorting a man out of the building. The man was thrown out of the facility and was no longer welcome to meet with the minister.

When Makinde reached the office he saw others waiting in the reception area. He approached Clara (Rita Dominic), who is a rude receptionist and gatekeeper to the minister and informed her of his 10 o’clock appointment. It is then that he learned that his appointment had been pushed up to 4:30. Makinde was a little pissed at the news, which he should have gotten beforehand, but he decided to wait it out. At one point he left to get a bite to eat and when he returned he was notified that the minister was called away. Clara rescheduled Makinde for the following day.

Makinde’s appointment with the minister was continuously rescheduled over the next four days when he was supposed to be in Abuja for only one day. During his time at the government office he watched others who didn’t have appointments go straight in to see the minister while others bribed their way in.

Time was of the essence, as Makinde’s boss didn’t want the company’s biggest competitor to get a deal with the minister first. In addition, Makinde had to be back in Lagos in time for his daughter’s graduation. His patience reached its peak on his fourth day in Abuja. He could no longer afford to have his meeting delayed and took matters into his own hands.

The subplot in the story is about the budding relationship between Makinde and Ejura (Linda Ejiofor). She’s a woman he shared a taxi ride with and she requested his business card. Since Makinde was forced to spend more time than expected in Abuja, Ejura showed him around town. Dinner, drinks, and dancing led to something special.

Let’s Talk. “The Meeting” is a simple movie about a guy that travels to Abuja to gain a contract for his company. Here’s why this screenplay is fantastic: conflict, conflict, conflict.

Conflict #1 – Makinde is an “average Joe.” Only Igbo folk, Clara’s friends, or those of high status were allowed to see the minister right away. Since one of the above constantly made appearances at the office, Makinde was pushed to the side like dirt.

Conflict #2 – Makinde’s meeting was supposed to be a one day trip, therefore, he had only the clothes on his back. When he sent his suit for dry cleaning services, he had no choice but to spend time with Ejura in a robe provided by the hotel.

Conflict #3 – Makinde was also under pressure to be back in Lagos in time to see his daughter graduate. Every day in Abuja threatened his timely return.

Conflict # 4 – Unfortunately, Makinde was caught in the squabble between Ejura and her ex-boyfriend and got punched in the face.

Conflict # 5 – Love was in the air for Makinde and Ejura but age was a factor; Ejura was significantly younger. 

Conflict # 6 – Makinde never took off his wedding ring after the death of his wife. He lived life surrounded by memories of her and never moved on.

In addition to the diverse layers neatly folded into the story, the writer (Mildred Okwo) managed to shed light on the politics in Abuja and the ongoing problem with electricity. With such multi-faceted content the story was never chaotic or drab.

The friendship between Makinde and Ejura left a warm and fuzzy spirit. They constantly exchanged wisecracks about their respective cities – Lagos vs. Abuja and their relationship was developed slowly and with class.

Performances? Well done. There’s a scene where Makinde asks Ejura what she sees in him. Her response was that he’s “gentle, kind, and sincere.” So true. Femi Jacobs’ charisma permeates even during his moments of frustration.

Rita Dominic rocked the house as the unapologetic and brassy Clara. She gave the character a strong presence and distinct nuances that made her stand out. Linda Ejiofor was also perfectly cast in the role as Ejura. Her level of maturity paired well with Femi’s.

“The Meeting” has raised the bar. It proves that great things can happen when you combine a well-written script with an exceptional cast. RECOMMEND

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