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LAGOS – A low-budget comedy in the working-clbad suburbs of the Nigerian capital, the first film of Ema Edosio "Kasala!" Instead, it almost oozes sweat, dust and marijuana with the smell of rotten meat and motor oil in what is actually a love letter to Lagos. which reflects a growing interest in social realism
The film, whose title means "problems" in local slang, takes place in the streets of Ojuelegba, a working-clbad suburb of the "continent" densely populated with Lagos. greet this 34 year old director as a local.
Even though Edosio herself lives on the "islands" – the most affluent neighborhood of this mega-city of 20 million people – it's a reality she knows well after growing up in a region similar with his eight brothers and sisters,
"80% of Lagos is like that but it's … under-represented in the cultural scene," she told AFP.
"I want to be the voice that puts their life on the screen."
The plot, which takes place over 24 hours, involves four young friends coming out for a good time and stealing a car belonging to one of their uncles. But they end up having to find 20,000 nairas (55, 47 euros) to repair them when they have an accident.
TJ and his friends are typical teenagers but even a juvenile error of judgment can have serious consequences in a disadvantaged neighborhood. Lagos
The uncle is in debt and risks being killed when he does not sell the car.
The film shows young Africans stuck in poverty, debt and second-hand clothing, dreaming of a better life. life as their idol, the superstar of Afropop, Davido
It is above all a film about friendship in which the ingenuity of big African cities is omnipresent
– "Social cinema – [196519002] Brutal realism is exactly what attracted Abiodun Kbadim, who plays the poor indebted uncle who tries to make ends meet at his dirty meat stall in the local market. "My character represents the backbone of Nigeria, a story of the daily life of all those people who are forcing their way through life," he said.
"These … are the majority, but people do not talk about it."
Since its release, "Kasala!" was acclaimed by critics in the Nigerian press
"2018 has not been a very good year for Nollywood," wrote Oris Aigbokhaevbolo on Bella Naija's website
"But Kasala! "
Writing on the website of the Lagos Film Society, Dare Dan hailed" Edosio's sensitivity to life in these neighborhoods from the first shot "
" Comedy , rooted in Realism is not something that we often encounter on Nigerian screens, "he said.
-" Refreshing, Authentic "-
] Yet no local cinema has agreed to show "Kasala! "Everywhere I am told that people want to see inspiring films," said Edosio, who for most Nigerians means to show rich people. "This kind of social cinema is struggling to emerge," said Serge Noukoue, The organizer of "This is not in the DNA of Nollywood, which aims to entertain."
"We are still in the wave" high life "of Nigerian cinema – very sophisticated, fashionable areas, women wearing a lot of makeup … "
At the festival, however," Kasala! "was singled out as one of the" It's a refreshing and authentic film, "says Nukuke
" Ema Edosio is a "new voice" in the Nollywood universe. It's a good thing and very positive. "
– Against the Current –
Abba Makama, director of" Green White Green "(2016), stated that he was" sick and tired "of" brilliant productions and brilliant using actors with British or American accents.
He describes his film, whose title refers to the colors of the Nigerian flag, as his "mosaic of madness".
This was one of the first examples of a small but growing movement of social realism to hit the cultural scene in the most populous nation of Africa.
The film has been screened in about 20 festivals around the world, including Toronto, and is available on Netflix. once again, it has never been shown on the big screen in Nigeria, despite its enormous success.
"In the 2000s, there were only about fifty cinemas throughout the country," said Makama
. several portals, Africa Magic, YouTube, more cinemas … But the films are pretty much the same. We need an alternative platform of film distribution. "
Edosio agrees, confident that there is an audience for his films and those of others who are also swimming against the tide: you just have to prove it to the distributors.
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