“Kembe Isonu” is a 2019 epic motion picture from the stables of PREM Film Production International (Fejosbaba TV). It was uploaded online momentarily for the World Movie Cinema on Damilola Mike-Bamiloye’s YouTube channel, while it remains perpetually on the Fejosbaba TV YouTube channel. It stars actors such as Moses Korede Are (Haunted, Gbajumo Were), Yemi Akande, Deborah Adeola (Never Again, Gbajumo Were), Femi Adebile (Gbemi, Death in the Pot), Isaac Femi-Akintunde (Abejoye series, Akobi Laaroye), Joshua Oladejo, Shola Oyin-Adejobi (Omo Taani, Akobi Laaroye), Seyi Pedro-Adetola (Ewa Inu, The Stranger) and a host of others.
Fresh off the back of a critically-acclaimed performance in Mount Zion Film Productions’ latest release Gbemi, Femi Adebile produces a screenplay of his own, with Adeoye Omoniyi (Abejoye Season 2, 1 in 50,000) as the director and well-known Johnson Babatola tripling as the man in charge of Costumes, Props and Set design.
The film tells the story of a couple whose sons refuse to follow their faith in Jesus.
What “KEMBE ISONU” requires of its viewers can be put in one word – Patience. It’s important to say this upfront because audiences, especially 21st century Computer/New Media Age viewers, might get moved by the slow pacing and unclear direction of the movie early on. I felt that way and at a point, was just watching passively.
But then, at the 33rd minute of the movie, I saw the potential this movie had and that got me “licking my lips” in anticipation of what “KEMBE ISONU” would turn out to be. I later realized that one of the things that initially made this gospel movie tedious to watch was that I couldn’t figure out where the movie was going, which was rather unusual for me. I didn’t even have the faintest idea, and that upset me. At least, not until half an hour into the movie.
My hopes were raised and then, seemingly dashed when the potential I had seen disappeared, and the focus of the narrative changed. Quite certain, I’d not quite watched a movie like this before.
However, this is only a first part, and with a few good laughs at different points in the movie, I can only look forward with faith how this film will unfold. One thing is sure, this first part is setting up something big in the Part 2, which as I write, has been released for another World Movie Cinema.
I’d previously written in my first draft of this review that “KEMBE ISONU Part 1” was a series with episodes in the body of a feature movie; as if to corroborate my theory, it was released on the producer’s YouTube channel as “KEMBE ISONU Episode 1”. However, I’m also aware that screenplays that take time in building their plots and conflicts often result in masterpieces; I’m trusting that “Kembe Isonu Part 2” will deliver on that premise. It’s by no means over, and it’s incomplete without the second part. Fingers crossed…
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