The art of filmmaking is one of the most popular forms of high art. Movies are visual, interactive and possess a high level of storytelling. With these ingredients, it is hard not to see why cinephiles get so enthralled, and sometimes volatile whenever the ceremony which awards for artistic and technical merit in film is around the corner. In 2022, it was not only the fans who got physical with Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage. Last year, the brawls were restricted to the papers as fans of the Barbie movie raised hell over its losses. This extreme enthusiasm is a result of the award show being the highest honour in the film industry, the Academy Awards.
What To Know About the Oscars:
Do not be deceived by their demure demeanour, cinephiles are as unhinged as music stans. The Snyder cult (yes, that is their self-given name) are the barbs and the Nolan fanboys– mock name– are the Swifties. This year’s Oscars was free from both fanbases, but that did not guarantee a year without a film nerd bloodbath. So when the battle took off on X you may have wondered what was happening and why it looked like everyone was suddenly against Anora– the winner of the Best Picture award.
Don’t worry, I will be listing all the Best Picture Nominees if you have not found time to watch any of them (no one is judging you, after all, the Brutalist is 3 hours long), we will be explaining them in Nollywood terms so you get the vibe.
THE OSCAR NOMINEES FOR BEST PICTURE:
- Emilia Perez:
A musical crime thriller about a lawyer who helps a cartel leader transition into a woman, exploring identity, power, and redemption which takes place in Mexico. While musical thrillers are practically nonexistent in the Nigerian film industry, the 2017 film, Ojuloge Obirin comes close to the Spanish-speaking musical. With a story about a morally questionable person who questions their identity— as a result of the decisions made by their mother. The movie sees notable Nigerian transwoman, Bobrisky make her small-screen debut.
Note: Despite having a star ensemble in its cast, Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez, it is its lesser-known lead cast member, Karla Sofía Gascón that has been in the news facing proven allegations of racism, fatphobia, xenophobia, sinophobia, and many more. This reduced the initially not fan-loved film’s chances at the Oscars. If it wins anything, there will be a riot.
- A Complete Unknown:
Young adult heartthrob, Timothée Chalamet takes on a persona that the world has never seen him attempt before. In this biopic, he plays Bob Dylan’s early years in New York chronicling his rise to fame in the 1960s folk scene. Chalamet took five years to prepare for the role, learning and mastering how to play the guitar. Similarly, the 2021 musical, Ayinla follows the life of the eponymous Apala musician who rose to fame in the 1970s but was tragically stabbed to death in a brawl with his manager, Bayewu. Ayinla is currently available on Netflix.
- Conclave:
The fan favourite movie is a political thriller set in the Vatican, following the secretive process of electing a new pope after the death of the previous one, with intrigue and power struggles. Now, for religious reasons, Nigerians stray away from making stories about the complexities that go on behind closed doors of religious establishments, even when it is a non-fiction tale. Nevertheless, if you are hungry for a Nollywood thriller with power struggles, then October 1st is ideal.
Directed by Kunle Afolayan and set in 1960, just before Nigeria’s independence. The film follows Inspector Danladi Waziri, a northern police officer sent to a small Yoruba town to investigate a series of brutal murders of young women. As he unravels the mystery, he discovers deep-seated colonial tensions, political corruption, and a shocking truth tied to Nigeria’s past and future.
- Nickel Boys:
An adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, depicting the brutal realities of a reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida through the eyes of two boys. The Jim Crow era (late 19th century to the 1960s) was a period of racial segregation and discrimination in the United States, primarily in the South. Named after a racist minstrel character, Jim Crow laws enforced segregation in public spaces, schools, transportation, and employment, treating Black Americans as second-class citizens.
If you have an itch for historical fiction, then you would be glad to learn about The Encounters by Tolu Ajayi. The historical fiction drama takes place during the Nigerian Civil War and tells the story of a tense interrogation between a captured soldier and a Biafran commander. The film explores themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the psychological burden of war as Ifeajuna is questioned about his role in Nigeria’s first military coup.
- I’m Still Here:
“I’m Still Here” is a Brazilian drama set during the 1970s military dictatorship. It tells the true story of Eunice Paiva’s determined search for her disappeared husband. The film highlights her resilience and the impact of political oppression on a family. Just like Brazil, Nigeria is a nation familiar with dictators.
One movie that matches the I’m Still Here theme is The Herbert Macualay Affair. The film, directed by Imoh Umoren, portrays the life of Nigerian nationalist Herbert Macaulay in 1920s colonial Nigeria. It focuses on his return from England, his fight against colonial injustices (land rights, taxes, segregation), and the events leading to his death.
- The Substance:
A body horror film starring Demi Moore explores a mysterious beauty product that grants youth but has terrifying consequences. One of the most talked about movies of 2024 and has singlehandedly redefined Demi Moore’s career. In Nollywood, it was once common to have out-of-pocket horror flicks but lately, they have been quiet.
So while there is not anything to match The Substance, we do have a documentary with a similar message about drastic beauty measures that are taken to counter the biases a certain subsection of women face. Skin by Beverly Naya discusses the colorism issue in West Africa and the use of bleaching products– a beauty product that grants a lighter complexation.
- Dune: Part Two
Another Timothée Chalamet hit, and this one features wunderkind, Zendaya. It is the continuation of Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic, focusing on Paul Atreides’ rise to power, his alliance with the Fremen, and his fight against House Harkonnen.
Sci-fi is a genre that is not in demand in the Nigerian film market— it is a hit in the literature industry, and here are a few suggestions if you are on the lookout. Dune: Part Two sees Atreides drink the Water Of Life– a hyper-concentrated dose of the spice melange, extracted from an adolescent sandworm. With this, he can lead the Fremen into freedom, but this comes at a cost. In Moremi: The Musical, we see a parallel.
Moremi The Musical is a Nigerian stage production that brings to life the legendary tale of Queen Moremi Ajasoro, a Yoruba heroine known for her bravery and sacrifice. She makes a pact with the goddess of River Esinmirin to find a way to defeat their enemies. She is later captured by the Ugbos, discovers their weakness, and then escapes and returns to Ile-Ife. She leads the final charge, successfully defeating the Ugbos. However, Esinmirin returns and demands Moremi give her “what is most dear to her.”
- Wicked:
Nigerian actress and Broadway star, Cynthia Erivo earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in a Lead Role for her part in the musical, Wicked. It is a fantasy film based on the hit Broadway show, telling the untold story of the Wicked Witch of the West and her friendship with Glinda before The Wizard of Oz.
The untold story casts Elphaba (Erivo) in a sympathetic light and highlights the cruelty faced in a society that punishes people for being different. It makes fans of the beloved tale of Oz question everything they ever knew. Who is wicked and how does one become wicked?
They do not make things like Wicked anymore but here is a movie with a closely knitted storyline. ’76 is a 2016 Nigerian historical drama directed by Izu Ojukwu, starring Ramsey Nouah and Rita Dominic. Set in the aftermath of the failed 1976 military coup that led to the assassination of General Murtala Mohammed, the film follows a young military officer falsely accused of involvement in the plot. As he fights to prove his innocence, his pregnant wife struggles to protect their family amidst the era’s widespread paranoia and political unrest. It is available on Netflix.
- Anora:
A romantic drama directed by Sean Baker about a stripper who unexpectedly marries the son of a Russian oligarch, leading to chaos and conflict. The film delves into how money, status, and personal agency shape relationships, especially when financial and social power imbalances exist.
Now, for the first time on this list, there are no parallels in the Nigerian movie I will be suggesting. However, they both have strippers and that is where the similarities stop between Anora and Ijakumo. Ijakumo: The Born Again Stripper is a 2022 Nigerian thriller directed by Toyin Abraham. The film follows Asabi, the daughter of a powerful clergyman, who seeks revenge against her ex-lover, Jide, a wealthy pastor with a dark past. To bring him down, she recruits Sharon, a stripper, to infiltrate his church and expose his secrets.
- The Brutalist:
The Brutalist is a historical drama about a Hungarian architect who immigrates to America after World War II, dealing with artistic ambition, love, and personal struggles.
Two decades after WWII, the Nigerian Civil War, a political-ethnic armed conflict, began in 1967. Based on Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel of the same name, Half of a Yellow Sun is a 2013 historical drama film directed by Biyi Bandele. Set in 1960s Nigeria, the film follows twin sisters, Olanna (Thandiwe Newton) and Kainene (Anika Noni Rose), as they navigate love, politics, and personal ambitions during the Nigerian Civil War (Biafran War).
Olanna moves in with her revolutionary professor lover, Odenigbo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), while Kainene pursues a business career and falls for a British writer, Richard. Their lives are upended when Nigeria descends into war, forcing them to confront personal betrayals, shifting loyalties, and the brutal realities of conflict.
