By Amadi Chimaobi Kingsley
THIS is a story of Timi played by AdemolaAdedoyin, an exceptional man with a good head on his shoulder, a young clergyman. With a brilliant mind, he also graduated top of his class at Cambridge and was the highest honored cadet in his entry class.
Married to his beautiful wife Bridget (EkuEdewor) and blessed with a daughter.
Timi moves to Nigeria in 1960 with his wife and daughter and starts a local church, with an interest in community service, and deeply committed to the gospel.
Everything was rosy until a gang sets his wife and daughter ablaze in retaliation for bearing witness against them. Timi tracks those responsible and kills them before attempting to commit suicide, but for some reason it never happened.
Over three decades later, he had already lost his faith in his religion, living in the confines of his mansion. His butler dies and his replacement comes in faith-filled Elijah (Chimezie Imo) Slowly and surely, Elijah begins to crumble the walls Timi has set around him, and their employer-to-employee relationship waxed strong, building trust and sincere bond.
The transition from a man without faith to a man finding solace through an unexpected friendship with Elijah, his new butler, is delicately crafted. Timi eventually adopted Elijah, gave him his lungs and his fortune.
Elijah was depicted as a church-loving individual committed to the gospel and having the biblical Stephen-the-martyr tendency. This attributes, while arguably present in Elijah, aren’t fully comprehensible. And the reason being that Elijah’s character hasn’t earned audiences’ confidence enough to push the narrative it intended.
The heart of the movie and the primary movers of its historical and religious tone are the performers, one cannot renounce the grand ambition of the filmmaker involved in the film, without nit picking, a semblance of unity from the script to the actor’s performance.
However, for certain viewers, the failing causes the efforts to come crumbling, in a film culture starved of well-thought-out and properly executed stories, films like (Breath of Life)will permanently be the definition of grand filmmaking.
This movie had potential to be something more, it has a resonating story, but the execution leaves the viewers wanting more.
Perhaps the biggest issue with this movie is that it is a Nigerian story told as if its from the western world. This reflects in a lot of things, dialogue included. For what its worth, the third act leaves a lasting impression but its not enough to elevate this movie beyond its mediocre quality.
Old Timi played by (Wale Ojo) was not convincing enough, there was certainly room for improvement, as his portrayal of a grief-stricken man comes across as too mechanical, was practically in a robot acting, the sudden switches from annoying to downright cheerful in a split second.
Not withstanding the cinematography is top notch, didn’t seem like I was watching a Nollywood movie. From the quality of the production, it shows the team had put in a lot of concentrated work, efforts and fund. The creativity, futuristic design and out of box thinking is on point, I haven’t seen many Nollywood movies go out of their way to do something more “Out of the box”
The director’s meticulous attention to details shines through, creating a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience. With a poignant soundtrack complementing the storytelling, this film is a testament to the brilliance of Nollywood in delivering impactful and resonant cinema.
“Breath of Life” is a captivating story that delves into the depths of the human spirit, offering a profound exploration of resilience, hope, and the transformative power of self-discovery. The film, directed by BB Sasore, has not only entertained but has left an indelible impact on those who have experienced its moving narrative.
The cast, led by Wale Ojo, Ademola Adedoyin, Chimezie Imo, Genoveva Umeh and Eku Edewor has been widely praised for their exceptional performances, breathing life into characters that navigate the complexities of the human experience. The compelling storytelling, coupled with exquisite cinematography, location, and a powerful musical score, has elevated “Breath of Life” to a cinematic masterpiece, little wonder it won the Best Picture award at the recently held AMVCA.
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