MY TEN KOBO; THE MEETING: A SIMPLE STORY WELL TOLD

In the last few years, I have turned off majority of Nigerian Movies, especially the ones done in English language. I found them tedious and predictable.

I still watch the Yoruba arm of the industry, not because I am a stakeholder or because I am Yoruba, it is simply because Madam controls the remote, and unless Arsenal is playing, defer the choice of station to her, and in most cases, it would be African Magic Yoruba.

A few days ago, my soon to be Son-in-law brought some DVDs for the wife. Partly out of boredom, and partly to play the gracious host, I decided to tarry a while, and ended up watching the whole movie.

The movie, titled The Meeting, was produced by Rita Dominic and starred Femi Jacobs and Linda Ejiofor.

On the surface, it is a love story between a middle-aged widower and a young Corps member, with the usual twists and turns, the token macho boyfriend and a motley crowd of A-listers thrown in for comedic effect.

But once you get beyond the surface, you then realise that the film is a congent commentary about the Nigerian Political firmament and the nuances of doing business with government, the ethnic , religious and political landmines of societal interaction and the usual Lagos vs Abuja rivalry.

The two main characters are well developed, and Jacobs and Ejiofor really made the roles come alive.

While I cringe at the end which was obviously influenced by Pretty Woman, it is nice to watch a Nigerian Movies for a change which is not dominated by priests, dwarfs and crude physical comedy, although all these were present but tastefully underplayed.

So, If you have two hours to kill and you want clean entertainment, I recommend The Meeting.

It may not at par with a Kunle Afolayan, a Tunde Kelani or a Fidelis Dukermovie, but it is a good yarn, a simple story well told.

My Ten Kobo.