A monthly roundup of the best of African cinema.
As we settle into the second half of the year, B.Side’s Film Club brings you a selection of some of the best motion pictures from across the continent for your viewing pleasure. Even though some of these films aren’t currently screening at the cinema, we are sure to find them for you on various streaming platforms.
Our picks for the month include Netflix's first original Kenyan series, a daring Nollywood romantic comedy, a psychological comedy thriller, and dramas.
Country Queen
Country Queen, Netflix's first original Kenyan film tells the story of Akisa, a young woman who leaves her country home to become successful in the city. Upon returning home, she discovers that an unscrupulous mining company is poisoning the community. Her town and herself are both at stake when she makes a stand there.
The six episodes drama's primary focus is on shedding light on the illegal gold mining occurring in Kenya and other African countries. While many African countries are considered developing nations, they are blessed with abundant natural resources. All those riches have never been used to improve the lives of ordinary people, but to fill the pockets of corrupt politicians and businesspeople. Pencil thieves instead of gun thieves. As such, this type of story becomes essential as it reveals true and unique African stories in an exciting new voice and medium.
WHERE TO WATCH: NETFLIX
HEY YOU
Written and directed by filmmaker Uyoyou Adia, Hey You follows the life of an awkward 32-year-old software engineer whose life is turned upside down when he finds out the girl he wants to be with is the Fansalone (a website) model he obsesses over and she’s his next-door neighbour.
Abel (Timini Egbuson) and Bianca ( Efe Irele) gets entangled in an unconventional way while in pursuit of love. The raunchy film takes a bold step with romantic storytelling in Nollywood and the audience will be invested in knowing if the duo will eventually find love while staying true to who they are.
WHERE TO WATCH: CURRENTLY STREAMING IN CINEMAS NATIONWIDE.
My Village People
My Village People is a 2021 Nigerian comedy thriller film written by Bovi Ugboma and directed by Niyi Akinmolayan. Prince (Bovi Ugboma) is a rich, supercilious Lagos man who returns to his village for his sister's (Venita Akpofure) wedding. He stays the night and is offered a young maiden (Theresa Edem) to spend the night with by the creepy village dibia (Amaechi Muonagor).
The girl promptly falls in love. It would have been a stereotypical movie with that premise, but the reason it’s been laid bare is to show how deeply in tune the movie is with core Nollywood tropes. The extra layer added to the movie is the hallowed subgenre of horror-comedy. The girl who has fallen in love with the obnoxious Lagosian is a witch, and the Lagosian himself does not believe in the supernatural. It is a good setup for drama.
WHERE TO WATCH: NETFLIX
Meet the In-Laws
Meet the In-Laws is a story of two young adults who fell in love and got engaged, it was later discovered that the union would not go as planned as their respective parents oppose the union since the man is from the Yoruba tribe and the woman is from the Ibo tribe, this caused a lot of chaos and later on, the couples find out that the actual reason for the opposition of their respective parents to the marriage is much deeper than just tribal differences.
The 2017 Nigerian film is written by Rita Onwurah and directed by Niyi Akinmolayan. The movie stars various famous actors and actresses: Adeniyi Johnson, Lilian Esoro, Kenneth Okolie, Dele Odule, Dayo Amusa, and Tina Mba amongst others.
WHERE TO WATCH: NETFLIX
In-Line
Written by Temitope Bolade and Diche Enunwa (story by Isaac Chris), the romantic drama centers on a convicted murderer who reunites with his wife after his release from prison. Things take an unprecedented love triangle twist when he invites his private investigator friend to monitor his wife following his suspicion of infidelity.
'In Line' stars Adesua Etomi, Uzor Arukwe, Chris Attoh, Shawn Faqua, Sika Osei, Tina Mba, Esosa Adah, and Elsie Ajokku amongst others, and was released in September 2017.
WHERE TO WATCH: NETFLIX
