Witness Gospel Movie Reviews

“HEART PAIN” REVIEW

Hey folks! You’re welcome to the review of Heart Pain, YouTube-released on May 2, 2021 from the stables of the Mount Zion Film Productions. It was written and produced by Evangelist Mike Bamiloye. It tells the story of Nelson, a minister of God who is away from his home performing ministerial exploits, while he spares little or no thought for the welfare of his family.

Straight off the bat, I’ll say that my catchphrase from this movie is The enemies you are fighting on the ministration field have gone home ahead of you (as well as The demons I’ve been casting out on the field have gone home to attack my family). Heart Pain is a filmic attempt to guide children of God everywhere who are being used by Him, in the paths of wisdom for carrying out the work.

The film brilliantly portrays the dynamics of contrast in Nelson’s life. Ably played by Temidayo Ayodele, Nelson enjoys honour unlike anything I’ve seen portrayed in any Christian film; there is so much regard afforded him: so many accolades are lavished on him, so much bowing and curtsying, and gratitude are expressed for the work of God in his hands. All these go to corroborate what Apostle Paul said about the office of a bishop being an honourable position. Unfortunately, those closest to him cannot regard him that highly because he is hardly ever around and so, we witness a plethora of issues on the homefront for him.

The display of his human and mechanical entourage is a stark contrast to the loneliness he’s put his wife into. The exquisite cuisine presented to him contradicts the dire financial need his wife and children seem to be in. The editing in those scenes cut between these two conditions to aid this portrayal.

One thing that stuck with me here is that when people we minister to are blessed, we shouldn’t take the glory and let it get to our heads. After all, we’re just like the colt that Jesus rode on into Jerusalem: were the people praising Jesus or the colt? How mistaken we would be to think that it’s about us!

In Nelson’s case, we see that he had given in to some level of covetousness. He “humbly” asks the room attendant: “How do I surmount all these mountains of food before me?” and then, still requests for fruit salad as dessert. Why, you may ask: because he was watching his weight! (Yeah, right! In my mind, I was like O jebi.) He thought himself to be the psalmist: “Thou preparest a table before me”, when he should have commanded the mountain to be moved.

I also realised that perhaps, the word ‘ministry’ needs to be understood as serving other people in the way that God has planned for our lives. Since that’s the case, our families, I believe, ought to be the first partakers of that blessing. After watching Heart Pain, I thought to myself that this understanding would do the family unit a world of good. I think it would give children the opportunity to know the God of their parents, to see Jesus in action firsthand through their parents, which would ensure that godly marriages actually produce godly children. It therefore places the onus on parents to model Christ correctly to their kids. In all, ministers are urged to give quality time to their families; indeed, ministry comes first. And that ministry is your family.

Something else that comes to my mind is what the Bible says about Jesus and Samuel: that they grew in wisdom and in stature, and in favour before God and man. I believe they grew in favour because they had good behaviours and a good number of people liked them. For Nelson, though he was ministering on the field, his character was quite questionable. He showed himself as a man lacked integrity, because, when he said he would call his wife back, he didn’t, which is why I believe when he tried to cast out ”Ishabakha” (lol, that name though), it had no respect for his word because Nelson himself had no regard for his own word. Christianity isn’t merely about displaying spirituality but living out contentment with godliness which is great gain.
In terms of cinematography, it is worthy to note the Dutch angle shot which duly portrays Mrs Nelson’s frantic situation was an inspired choice.
All in all, Heart Pain is a touching movie with a God-given message, and ends with a new number, “Letting Go” I believe, from Jay-Mikee. I recommend it for your watching blessedness and pleasure.
Alright, we’ve come to the end of this review. Have you seen Heart Pain? What did you think about it? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. The link to the movie is in the description.
Till the next review, stay blessed!

“BLOOD BANK 3” REVIEW

Hey folks! You’re welcome to the review of Blood Bank 3, YouTube-released on July 4, 2021 from the stables of PREM Film International. As for its first two parts, this one also is written by Femi Adebile and directed by Adeoye Omoniyi. It continues the story of Kingsley, played by Adeoye Omoniyi, whose dealings with the Kwalishanga realm of the satanic kingdom brings him to his waterloo, after which he eventually meets Jesus in Part 1, and then is accused of killing his friend, Dr Mike, in Part 2. Part 3 takes the story a little bit further, while engrafting a convert of Kingsley from Part 2, Inspector Daniel, played by Richard Omidiwura who plays Jogunomi in Abejoye Season 4 (2021) and also features in Awon Akoni (2020), as well as his wife, Bolatito, played by Nike Owah who featured in The Train (2020) and the Abattoir Series (2020 to date).

The movie starts with a spot-on recap of Part 2 which sets a good platform for what is to come in the movie. I’ve observed that all films by Femi Adebile this year have had this, shall I say, fresh quality to their dialogue, in the sense that they are more witty and engaging, and the interchange between characters is more coordinated; Blood Bank 3 is no different. Almost every character is given a fair bit of mildly humorous lines which evoke a grin from the audience from time to time in the movie.

In my opinion, Blood Bank 3, as well as Blood Bank 2 (2021), looks more of a spin-off than a sequel. This is because firstly, the plot in each is propelled only a little, and secondly, the genre has kind of shifted from the mystical in Part 1 to Crime in Part 2, and Drama in Part 3. The baton of protagonism has kind of been passed from Kingsley to Joshua to Inspector Daniel at different times. The concept of ‘blood bank’ has thus been absent from these sequels, and it would be a bit difficult to follow them without having seen the original movie.

The main theme in Blood Bank 3 is the delicate yet powerful one of forgiveness. Virtually every character has one thing or the other to forgive, which goes to portray the fact that there is no end to offences that we might face. We must however be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to help us let go of every evil done to us. In the words of Plus One’s “Quest of Many Trails”: Remember the story without all the hurt; hold on to the fruit, and wash off all the dirt.

Most, if not all the scenes in Blood Bank 3 are short, which results in little conflicts that are quickly and easily resolved. The movie is thus unnecessarily fast-paced, which cost me as a viewer the chance to really get emotionally invested in the characters; it cost me the opportunity to truly care about the Kingsley and Daniel families. However, this is not because the film can’t be longer, because there are actually plot holes that naturally raise unanswered questions.

After seeing Blood Bank 3, I wondered, ‘How did Bolatito meet Kingsley’, ‘Did they know each other prior to their sexual intimacy, or was it a one-night stand’, ‘Was it a contract union they had with each other’, ‘Was Bolatito an agent of Kwalishanga’, ‘So, Inspector Daniel had patronised Kwalishanga before’ ‘Was it had a premonition, trance or deja vu Inspector Daniel had as he challenged his wife’ ‘What was its purpose in the film’? Most of these questions might have been resolved had the film begun with an interesting backstory montage of maybe Inspector Daniel’s and Bolatito’s childlessness, or how Kingsley and Bolatito met. I must say that I didn’t like the handling of Pius, the (presumably) teenage son of the Inspector, who was made to go through every ugly detail of his parents’ messy (past) relationships. I think this should have been done more subtly.

Finally, I’d like to talk about the characterisation of Joshua, played by Femi Adebile. I feel he’s been “sidelined” to the role of a mediator, which makes the film devoid of his personal story. In Blood Bank, we see how attempts by Kingsley to lure him into the coven of Kwalishanga fail, and how he himself overcomes insecurities of his background in a captivating scene used as a teaser before its release in 2020. In the sequels though, he only comes in as the resolver of conflict which makes him seem a bit less of a stakeholder in the main plot.

In any case, Blood Bank 3 shows us the power of forgiveness and one thing is certain: when Jesus tells us in Matthew 5 not to get angry with anyone without a cause, to refrain from calling our brother ‘fool’ or cursing him, to drop our offerings at the altar if someone has something against us, to pluck out and cut off the ‘good’ eye or hand respectively that causes us to sin, to turn the other cheek, to pray for those who persecute us and to love our enemies, it’s very clear that God wants us to stay away from all forms of strife and unforgiveness. Whatever grudge it is we have against anyone is not worth the trouble at all. I pray that in Jesus name, God will help us all to be, as much as lies within us, at peace with all men.

Alright, we’ve come to the end of this review. Have you seen Blood Bank 3? What did you think about it? Please let me know in the comments section below.

Click this link to watch the movie: https://youtu.be/wB5m_5FjnsA

Till the next article, stay blessed!

SHORTS:“THE LABOURER” REVIEW

Hey folks! You’re welcome to the review of the short film The Labourer. It’s a Father’s Courier Productions release that recognises itself as a short and doesn’t beat about the bush. Instead, it expresses its message in clear and succint illustrations. It stars Temidayo Ayodele, Festus Olalekan Dairo, Faith Dairo, Flora O’seyi Ayodele and Francis Dairo. It tells the story of a young drama minister who wants to be successful but lets his focus on the expectation of financial rewards cause him to take his eyes off God and the mission.

The film has a plausible storyline because almost everyone can relate to that point in time where you feel you need a break. But then, that break becomes a very long one that culminates into abandoning one’s original purpose. It brings to the fore the question of what God’s blessing on our work for Him is – is it in monetary terms, or is it about the souls that are saved? Ultimately, The Labourer makes us see that God’s servants must keep their eyes stayed on Him and wait patiently for any kind of reward. I like that it also addresses institutions that invite drama ministers for ministrations and don’t give them anything, which more often than not, is done from a selfish motive.

As in Jinxed (2020) reviewed sometime ago, the sound design here is good too, especially the prominence given to the ambient sounds of scenes. It also puts up Bible references for points of the message it passes across. In The Labourer, we see the agony of an abandoned vessel in whose situation a great level of brotherly affection is portrayed through the use of flashbacks from vantage points, a technique which usually makes for an interesting watch.

The movie remarkably emphasizes that we are workers in God’s vineyard and at no time does God expect us to do it in our natural, human strength. We are co-labourers with Christ, we are God’s vineyard, we are His building. Thus, as well as using us to bring in a harvest, He is also working in us, helping us do it, hence, the Yoruba terming of God as the Oromonisefayatii (The One who sends one on errands and still goes with him).

THE LABOURER: WE WORK FOR HIM BUT HE ALSO WORKS IN US BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE.

Click here to watch the movie: https://youtu.be/Xj0JKdaaUuc

Till the next article, stay connected to God.

“TWO MAIDS” REVIEW

Hey folks! You’re welcome to the review of Two Maids written by Femi Adebile, produced by Fejosbaba TV and directed by Adeoye Omoniyi. It was released from the stables of PREM Film Production International. The movie creates a very interesting premise when Mr and Mrs Kunle, played by Kayode Owojori (Abattoir Series [2020 to date], Games Season 1 [2021] ) and Omolara Ayoola (The House of a Stranger Series [2020-2021], Jailer [2021] ) each get a maid for their home. It tells the story of two maids with conflicting missions in the Kunle household.

Esther Adesina and Glory Adebile are right at home in their performance as the two maids – Charity and Princess. The movie is quite engaging because right from Charity’s introduction, the element of mystery begins and the questions raised don’t get resolved for a long time. This film then makes use of the dream motif, and its peculiarity is taken into consideration. For example, events in dreams do not necessarily happen sequentially, and the concept of time and space is not always what works in reality. Hence, sequentiality and spatial and temporal settings are displaced in Two Maids, which works as elements of a dream. One aspect to pay attention to though, is finding a way to indicate distinctly, at what point exactly the dream began, because, by the time we’re back in reality, questions would be raised in our minds as to which events were real and which weren’t.

Another remarkable dream element Two Maids uses is the allegory, which goes to portray the powerful message of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and people’s attitude towards the uncertainty of its time. The film is thus a timely reminder of what I regard as the Greatest Event of All Time – the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. At the level of symbolism, the movie works very well as it portrays the battle between the forces of light and darkness. The musical element, as well as its accompanyinig animation (a pictorial representation of Jesus’ return), put at the closing stages was also quite good to see. I’ve observed that in recent times, the writer has ventured into genres Christian films don’t abound in presently; that’s a very good development.

However, the opening credits are rather too long, being about six minutes. The subplot of DJ and his friends, I felt, was rather too distant to the main plot. Also, there were a few snappy cuts away from scenes, and this was none more demonstrated than the scene where Mr Kunle slaps his wife: there was a shocking, an intense shot that displayed the gravity of the situation. It was an opportunity to feel the tension of the characters and hone in on the strain on their relationship at that moment, but just before we could experience it, snap! Into an unnnecessary establishment shot for the next scene. I believe these will be improved upon subsequently.

A sincere, down-to-earth epilogue draws the curtain on Two Maids; it was an agonising, a heartfelt, and I suspect, possibly unscripted rendition that tells us of the Lord’s imminent coming. With all the happenings around the world, this is a message for the unrighteous to put their trust in the Saviour that Jesus is, and for those who believe in Him to run their races with eyes on the Master.

Alright, we’ve come to the end of this review. Have you seen it? What did you think about it? Please, let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Click below to watch the movie:

SHORTS: “THE VOICE” REVIEW

Hey folks! You’re welcome to the review of the short film The Voice. The story conceived by Timileyin Adereti (who also plays the protagonist) was written by Joseph Omoniyi and directed by John Oguntuase. It tells the story of Michelle, a lady who shuns the advances of a godly man for an image she has created in her mind of a perfect husband, a definition of which is anchored on physical attributes and wealth.

Timileyin Adereti plays Michelle in a larger-than-life way that accentuates the corrosion of her mind. She exemplifies what I would call the ‘carnality of spirituality’: though she’s a professing Christian, her world-view, perceptions and decisions are based on worldly things; she’s all into doing whatever she wants to do rather than seeking to do the will of her Lord.

The script is well-written in terms of the dialogue for each character. For example, Michelle’s description of a model husband makes relevant pop culture references. The lines for Marquin also possess a credible wit to sweep Michelle off her feet. Seun Adejumobi perfectly portrays an obnoxious Marquin character that is exactly what the director wants him to be – a slave-driver whose oppression is the stuff nightmares are made of. The consequences of such are best left for the imagination, which thankfully, is the case for Michelle.

The Voice makes us see that if we’re truly God’s sheep, then we would listen to the sound of His love over us, rather than the selfish human nature or wrong mindsets. May we continually enjoy God’s mercy over our life decisions, in Jesus’ name.

You can watch the movie here: https://youtu.be/4ns8VrQyUrk

THE VOICE: WORTH LISTENING TO IS THE SHEPHERD’S.

“KEMBE ISONU SEASON 3: THE WARFARE” REVIEW

Hey folks! You’re welcome to the review of “Kembe Isonu Season 3: The Warfare”. Something I’ve come to appreciate in this particular series is how it gets better with each new season. That said, I would say that Season 3 is the cream of the crop in the series so far.

Its dialogue is significantly an upgrade on the previous seasons. Here, it was more engaging, more witty and remarkably makes use of Nigerian pop culture references such as sorosoke and lori iro. The pace picks up quicker and the background music has only gotten better and better. The introductory song was tailored to the cast name display in the opening credits, while a slower variation of its instrumental is used along the line in the movie, thus creating a motif for its music.

The development of the characters has also been consistent, while also smoothly introducing new characters. The boys have come a long way from the days of their captivity in Ewekoro’s dungeon. Gbadebo has evolved from his disinterest in the salvation of his soul into a bold, assured fellow who literally puts on a helmet of salvation, while Gbenro has become a teacher of the gospel. Some however, are yet to really turn a corner in their lives. I really look forward to Aremo ‘Bawumi stepping up to his potential. This is someone that at an early point in the series, seemed to be the hope of Bayegun village but fell short. Every other chance since then to take his place of authority in Christ just hasn’t been fruitful; so, I hope he eventually rises to the call.

Now to the eponymous character, Kembe Isonu: he’s at a place where he should be teaching others but he hasn’t made Jesus his only Lord yet. Even the newly born-again king of Alajogun recognises Kembe’s serve-two-masters mentality. And with God, you’d have to stay on one side of the road; you’re either hot or cold.

It’s sad to see Kembe Isonu reduced to a beggarly, pitiable and dishonourable state. Oluawo of Alajogun village serves as a foil to Kembe. Having been priests to the gods of their respective villages, their decisions to follow Jesus couldn’t have turned out to be more different than portrayed in this season. Oluawo has unswerving devotion to the Lord and he literally puts off the old man, and his new appearance is pleasant to see. Kembe on the other hand doesn’t put on the form of godliness, yet, wants the power therein. Gbawomi is the character that exposes his flaws, and like I said in my review of Season 2, he is one to look out for.

Gbawomi is on a revenge mission against Kembe Isonu because Kembe made Gbawomi’s relative, Alapini partially dumb. He is played excellently by Paul Adepoju who embodies his character in recognisable ways, especially in his mannerisms in speech, and charisma in gestures.

Let’s now talk about Olori Semoleyin who had promised to return in this season with power that would defeat the Almighty, and her plan was, well, to place curses on the people. Is it just me, or have you ever wondered how the King of Alajogun and Queen Semoleyin became a couple? I can’t just imagine what kind of marriage they have. That cursing scene is my favourite scene in the movie, inspired by the Balaam-Balak story, which is just an example of maybe I should say, more creative story writing.

Also, one remarkable thing Season 3 does, I would say that other previous seasons don’t do that strikingly, is setting up the next season of the franchise. The story is well-poised to launch into another season due to the cliffhangers intentonally inserted in it. Gbewukari, Semoleyin’s mother, has promised to find out the ‘taboo’ of the New Covenant Gbadebo and Gbenro have with Christ, and it’s left to our imagination how the boys may be undone; something in the line of Delilah comes to my mind. That prospect makes me look forward to the next season. Similarly, the king of Bayegun who seemed to have given his life to Christ appears to shift ground when his most valued treasure is in chains. That showed me that whoever we claim to be and our profession of faith will be tested at one time or the other; I pray that after all is said and done, we will not be found wanting.

Coupled with questions of what Bawumi would do being pushed to the wall, a new season earns its place in this series. I look forward to a very impactful and entertaining Season 4.

Alright, we’ve come to the end of this reveiw. Have you see the movie? What did you think about it? What was your favourite scene? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

You can watch the movie below:

Till the next article, stay blessed.

“JINXED” Review – SHORTS

What’s up folks? You’re welcome to the review of Jinxed, a short movie produced last year that, along with After One (2021), inspired me to begin reviewing short films on a consistent basis.

TAGLINE: BEAUTIFUL STORY, POWERFUL MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL

Jinxed was written and directed by Festus Olalekan Dairo. An amazing fact about it is that it was a project done last year by a group of students at the Mount Zion Institute of Christian Drama. It tells the story of Payin, who wants to be successful in life but seems to have been condemned to a meaningless existence by the very one that brought him into this world. He has lived a jinxed life and has accepted his luck, until God sends the most unlikely channels to turn the course of his life around.

The title could easily have been a term not uncommon to Christianity like ‘Cursed’ but it uses a word that anybody could relate with, thereby reaching more individuals, especially those who have accepted their fate in life. Jinxed shows us a better way by inspiring us to have faith and pray earnestly.

It isn’t popular to see a movie that makes all the right decisions in its aesthetic and technical components, but that is what obtains in Jinxed. This short has many distinct properties, among which is its fantastic sound design, an aspect that not many Christian films have been able to explore successfully. One of its benefits is the relatedness and smooth transitions it creates between scenes. It makes use of theatrical elements at its disposal that make watching it a rich experience. An example is its use of both English and French subtitles, which expands its potential viewership.

Another thing Jinxed does is to let the cinematography do a bit of the story-telling, rather than leaning heavily on dialogue. The gaps it leaves in dialogue and shots are things that can be easily inferred by the audience such that no sooner do you wonder what a certain gap means than you figure out the answer. Jinxed is an engaging and impactful movie.

Two vital elements of any movie are the protagonist and the story; Jinxed gets it right in both. Payin, wonderfully played by Adegoke Jolaadura Ezekiel, is someone we’d care about. His character is well-built despite the fact that there wasn’t a lot of time to do that. Jinxed re-tells a very short biblical and historical narrative in a very refreshing way. When all the pieces come together and you discover what story it is, the message hits you with clarity. Jinxed is indeed a gospel movie and is very impactful.

Without spoiling the movie for you, it ends on a very sweet note portrayed in a memorable and amusing way. I’d state here that Jinxed is up there with my favourite short films, and I’ll label it “A fresh and creative take on an Old Testament story of a turnaround”.

Click below to watch the movie :

You could watch the video of this review below :

“THE YOUTH PRESIDENT” REVIEW

Hey folks! You’re welcome to the review of The Youth President, from the stables of End-time Revival Drama Ministries and Film Production (ETREM). It was directed by Abiola Babatola ‘Nattytunez’.

The poster picture was good, with the design of the title giving the impression that the setting would be Anglican. The opening montage looked promising with the faces of characters withheld initially. I expected that the protagonist would then be given a dramatic or cinematic reveal, which would have created a good feel to the movie; however, the attack on the youth president in the opening scene forced the camera to fully reveal him in a way that made the earlier build up of little effect.

The Youth President basically talks about the trials of faith that confront a productive believer, while attempting to show us the reason for them, and tags it ‘The Mystery of the Cross’.

A picture, they say, is worth a thousand words. If there are twenty-four pictures in a second of video, that means a one-minute video could communicate what twenty-four thousand words would. The mystery that this film is premised on could have been made clearer if there had been more action and fewer words. Thus, The Youth President largely places exposition over drama. Though majority of the film uses flashback stories to illustrate its message, it still goes ahead to verbally explain those illustrations. A better method to adopt would be the ‘Show, Don’t Tell’ technique that engages the audience, rather than the film spelling everything out to them.

A commendable aspect of this production is the effective make-up and costuming done for the demons. Similarly, the visual effect used for the ‘bubble of grace’ was credible and had no glitches. Areas of improvement include the subtitling, as well as the predictable camera work for scene transitions, especially the pans used to indicate the oscillations between the past and the present. With regards to the soundtrack, it’s always better when the lyrics are correctly articulated and sung with some finesse.

The message of The Youth President is a deep one – that the work of salvation was finished on the cross and that we are the ones that now have to lay claim to it. I would hope that subsequently, a film would show us, in practical terms, what it means to walk in Christ’s finished works and how to do so. If there would be a sequel, addressing this would do the movie a world of good.

Alright, we’ve come to the end of this review. Have you seen The Youth President? What did you think about it? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

You could watch the movie below:

Till the next article, stay blessed.

“IN LOVE WITH A PROSTITUTE” REVIEW

Hey folks! You’re welcome to the review of my third Valentine’s Day YouTube Christian movie release, In Love with a Prostitute. Interesting title, isn’t it? Interesting story too, especially because of the personality of the protagonist, Jide Williams, played by Ayo ‘Cineman’ Olaleye. The movie was written by Emmanuel Olorunjubeelo, directed by Adeoye Omoniyi and produced by Taiwo Ayoola.

As the self-explanatory title denotes, Jide falls in love with a prostitute and it is a pleasing thing when we see how that love, so to say purifies Sharon, played by Abiola Ojelabi. However, the whole process involved should not be overlooked, in order to avoid misunderstanding the message of the movie. I would say that this film uses Jide’s life to show the kind of mistakes one could make in marital choice, rather than using Jide’s actions as a model for Christians to follow.

On the surface, the situation looks like the prostitute was God’s will for Jide, which could really be misleading and easily misunderstood, especially with the biblical instance of Hosea and Gomer. So, maybe the million-dollar question is: Would God lead his child to a prostitute? Let’s examine it.

Proverbs 31:12 enlightens us that a virtuous woman does her husband good and not evil, but at the beginning of this movie, what we see is that Sharon “makes” Jide tell a lie to cover up something he didn’t even have an idea of. For majority of In Love with a Prostitute, Jide shows himself as a novice in many ways. His actions thereafter are as erratic as the occasional choppy movements from scene to scene, which made certain scenes feel incomplete and inconclusive. Jide actually shows Sharon care and compassion but his motives are questionable.

Next thing we know, he’s declared to his parents that he’s in love with her. Now, let’s look at this: he feels there’s something wrong with it – he tags it a strange love, he calls it madness, and asks God for healing; yet, he goes ahead to propose marriage to her and it was only then he thought to tell his pastor! That’s preposterous. Unfortunately, it’s like the pastor doesn’t even do anything about it.

From these, we can deduce that Jide has been entirely emotional about his marital choice; he hasn’t deferred to God, spiritual authority or parental guidance concerning it. He clearly doesn’t have peace in the union; so, it’s a wonder why he goes ahead. I deem it vital to state that the movie is not trying to say that Jide has done the right thing. In any case, God does later on redeem the situation and makes something beautiful of Sharon’s life.

A better way for Jide to have gone about it would be to seek God and not be carnally minded. He might have “fallen in love” with Sharon but as a child of God, he should have sought to first of all, reconcile her with God by showing her the love of Christ. In the movie, his care for her eventually touches her and she begins to turn over a new leaf; for her, whether he married her or not, she wouldn’t return to prostitution – that should have brought Jide back to his senses. Her decision offered him the opportunity to come into the actual part God might have intended him to play in her life – the role of a mentor. And who knows? In time, God might give the green light for that relationship to become something more. But with the way Jide did things, it just looked like a marriage out of pity.

The music of In Love with a Prostitute merits a mention because its theme song was quite good. I would say though, that such should not be used too often as for example, a medium of transition from scene to scene. Instrumentals and background tunes that align with the mood of individual scenes could be used instead. The movie also introduces a nice element that tallies with its theme: a love song.

Another commendable aspect of In Love with a Prostitute is the revelation scene, one whose instruction – Wash the cup – Jide misinterprets to mean “Marry her” instead of “Preach the gospel to her; get her saved with the kindness you received from God”. Talk of her salvation should have come before any discussion of marriage. Also remarkable was the acting of the ladies in the brothel.

My own takeaway from In Love with a Prostitute is the actions of the so-called believers in the movie. Jide’s neighbour was so quick to tag his neighbours ‘prostitutes’ when the real question is whether he had tried to shine the light of the gospel of Christ on them. Of course, there is need for caution but are we really reaching out to people like that who need help, or we’re just content to judge and condemn them? Likewise, was Mrs Williams seriously trying to pay Sharon off? That wasn’t Christ-like at all. I pray that the Lord will help us all to be true ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

Alright, we’ve come to the end of this review? Have you seen the movie? What did you think about it? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. You could watch the movie below:

Till the next article, stay blessed!

“AFTER ONE” REVIEW

Hey folks! You’re welcome to the review of a Christian short film After One. I came across its trailer some weeks ago and I was captivated by its poster, the theme I perceived it would consider, its tone, and the casting of Jane, played by Olakunmi Salako, who perfectly looked the part of a nursing mother. Having seen her feature in movies like The Boomerang (2018) and Prime Suspect (2020), her selection in After One, for me, suggested excellence and great attention to detail. Right then in my heart, I was inspired to begin reviewing short films on a consistent basis; such was the impact the trailer had on me.

After One was released on YouTube on March 26, 2021, from the partnership between KinsMan Media and Preciouscrown Production. The story was written by Lydia Emmanuel, directed by Ayobola Eniola and produced by Ololade Okedare and Fiyinfolu CP Okedare.

This short film addresses the challenges new mothers face after childbirth, a situation vividly portrayed through earnest cinematography that details every aspect of the matter. Another strength of After One is the excellent performance of the cast. The protagonist, Jane, was played by Olakunmi Salako, who has always seemed to me like a natural; she always conveys her emotions convincingly to the audience. You would care about her Jane character; we feel what she feels, we can relate to it, or at least, we want to imagine what she is going through. Every other person played their roles with ease and propriety: Fiyinfolu CP Okedare as John, Sade Aina as Jane’s mother-in-law; Adedamola Salako and Seun Adejumobi as John’s friends and Jane’s friends all reflected different personalities; they were very good. They all featured in my favourite scene – that naming ceremony scene – that had good background music and nice steadicam movements.

After One may be a short film but it brings to our screens a matter I find it hard to recollect any other Christian movie has tackled. It chronicles the struggles modern age new mothers have with their identity, family customs and social constructs. It’s a corrective movie that urges men to move beyond societal stereotypes and wrong mindsets that limit them from loving their wives as Christ loves the church. After One is also well-structured in terms of its mood and tone, no better signified than by the appropriate background tunes which conveyed the emotions the director wanted in each scene.

Ahead of subsequent productions, I would like the producing ministries to look into achieving consistency in the subtitle format, the subtitling itself, colour grading and camera focus. Also, the dressing of characters should be given more attention and be better coordinated. All in all, After One is a wonderful Christian movie and in practical terms for a new father, God is saying: “Do not regard the feeding of your baby as the mother’s concern alone; chip in. The baby’s welfare is not the mother’s business alone; never leave it to her to do”.

Alright, we’ve come to the end of this review. Have you seen it? What did you think about it? What’s your take home from After One? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.

You can watch the movie below:

Till the next article, stay blessed.