NAIJA CHRISTMAS: A CARNIVAL OF LOVE, LUST AND LAUGHS

Joseph Omoniyi

Synopsis/Summary

As the first Nigerian holiday/Christmas movie, Naija Christmas is a fusion of creative styles, concepts, themes, and genre. Comedy and drama – dramedy; Classism and poverty; music and dance; African and western cultures. Faith and lack of it and a mixture of old and young faces in Nollywood.

A Naija Christmas beautifully tells the story of three brothers’ quest to make the heart desire of their ailing mother a reality while racing against time. Written by Kemi Adesoye, directed and produced by Kunle Afolayan, the movie was shot on the Island of Lagos Nigeria and released on Netflix on December 16, 2021. The movie features veteran and popular faces like the late Ms. Rachael Oniga, Carol King, Kunle Remi, Mercy Johnson, Linda Osifo, Lateef Adedimeji, Efa Iwara, Abayomi Alvin, Segilola Ogidan and a host of others.

Central Dramatic Problem

Will any of the three boys succeed by fulfilling their mother’s wish before Christmas?

Plot/Sub-plot/Plants

With just about two hours run time, the movie opens with Ajike ‘stealing a recording session’ with Amos, in Ugo’s Studio. As Ugo walks in with his date, Amos leaves quickly, leaving Ajike who hides in the recording booth. As Ajike peeps at the two ‘love birds’, some other two ladies whom Ugo had cheated on burst in and wreak havoc on his expensive equipment and car.

Just as Ugo tries to wrap his head around his sudden ‘misfortune’, he receives a call from Chike, his younger brother – a reminder about being part of the surprise marriage proposal they had planned for Obi’s girlfriend. Meanwhile, the mom, Mrs. Agatha chairs a meeting with the Ladies of Undiluted Destinies, where she is being mocked for not being a grandmother, just as Mama reciprocates by assuring the women that her second son, Obi is currently proposing marriage to Vera, Mama’s chief antagonist, Deaconess Fakorede shares the news of Obi’s public disgrace on social media as Vera rejects his proposal. Mama faints and she is rushed to the hospital.

At the hospital, Mama berates her sons for not being serious with ‘settling down’ and providing her with grandchildren. She then gives them a proposal – the first to get married before or by Christmas would get their much-coveted family house.

As the quest begins, Ugo is approached by Tony Torpedo, a loan shark, to reclaim his funds. He leaves with a threat and picks an expensive item belonging to Ugo. In a bid to find a partner and claim the house prize, Ugo reaches out to some of his old flames for a relationship – fruitless effort.

At work, Obi gets turned down by Vera who tells him to create a winning pitch for their new project, if he wants to win her back.

After Mama foils Ugo’s shady plan with his business partner, she takes her sons to church, hoping they would find a proper wife ‘in the house of the Lord’. After volunteering to be the next church drummer, Ugo is made to officially meet Ajike, the choir leader with a sonorous voice. He promises her a free studio session in a bid to woo her.

In the studio, Ugo uses exactly the same technique he has been using on other women on Ajike, who easily deflects it and tells Ugo to be serious about the Choir or stay away if he just wants to play games. Frustrated, he goes home to meet Tony who leaves with his TV set.

The Ladies of Undiluted Destinies visit Mushin in preparation for their Christmas Gala night but Mama is unable to attend. Ajike takes Ugo to the same area to meet some of her people. Obi delivers a winning pitch – a Christmas in the ghetto area. This feat resurrects his relationship with Vera.

Ajike records a demo with Ugo who then goes home to meet his living room almost empty. Meanwhile, we see Chike in bed with one of the women of Undiluted Destinies, Sammy. Tony won’t stop after packing all the furniture in Ugo’s apartment. He visits again and has his personal bodyguard, Javelin beat Ugo up. Ajike comforts Ugo.

Vera openly proposes to Obi, leaving Kaneng teary, as she tries to hide her feelings for Obi. Kaneng and Obi make out, while Ugo and Ajike go on actual date.

Obi tells Vera he cannot marry her as he is now in love with Kaneng but turns out Kaneng is Tony’s girlfriend. Chike finds out Sammy is not ready to leave her husband for him. Ugo officially proposes a relationship to Ajike, but she tells him their relationship will have to be sanctioned by the church elders. He is told to steer clear of being intimate with Ajike.

Torpedo meets with Obi demanding the monetary equivalent value of the emotional damage he costs him for taking Kaneng from him and the amount Ugo owes.

Obi suggests to Ugo that there is something going on with Ajike and Tony. Will any of these boys ever win the marriage quest before Christmas and make their Mama happy and fulfilled?

Screenplay

The screenplay, written by Kemi Adesoye who had previously worked with Kunle on The Figurine and Phone Swap, weaves together plots and characters that Nigerians can easily see and touch. You could almost see yourself, your environment, with the fusions, achieving cultural relevance with the parties, holiday spirit, the social media highlights, the fuss about marriage and wedding with a Nigerian mother and all. The screenplay sets out to create fun and it does.

 

 

Character and Characterisation

The characters are very relatable. The movie creates a contrast with Ugo and Obi’s characterization. Ugo is the incurable playboy who does anything to get what he wants – Obi, who is a reserved, introverted nerd. Segilola is the embodiment of a talented, beautiful lady from a poor background. Mama Agatha is our mother whose only dream in life at this point is to carry their grandchildren. Late Ms. Rachael Oniga delivers amazingly in her elements, with her signature facial expressions.

Kunle Remi kind of stands out among all the cast with fun to watch acting as a playboy, but Efe Iwara’s range should now be explored more by other directors, after his delivery on this project.

Cinematography

The cinematography is laid with beautiful pictures with push-ins and push-outs that pull us into the action at some point and then make us observe the other.

Directorial Prowess/Production Design/Post-production

This movie further reiterates the versatility of the amazing Kunle Afolyan who prides himself on interesting aspects of the Nigerian life rarely depicted in our movies. Here, he raises several sociological questions. What a Christmas really is to different people, classes, climes in our society. The set, costumes, and production design were sure creatively employed to portray all of these. From the Island to the ghetto of the mainland, Mushin. Even with the music the dancehall at the beginning and Pasuma’s Fuji at the end. The introduction of Pasuma is a reflection of Kunle’s love for fuji music and the artiste who is equally his town boy.

 

Lesson Learnt

This movie takes us through the reality of pursuing happiness and what true happiness truly is and simple it is to really be happy

Conclusion

This movie has a bit of a hiccup. But the fun makes them forgivable. Like, how does the uniformed studio bouncer suddenly disappears when Tony comes around.

Verdict

This movie deserves a 70/100

Shoots NG’s Score Card:

70- 100%= you are the bomb, be ready for Oscars

50-70%= Thank you for repping quality

30- 50%= You can do better, up your game

10-30%= Return to film school

01- 10%= Filming is not for you, look for another job

 

POST SCRIPT

So, briefly away from the formality of our regular indices of the movie review. Kunle Afolayan is a blessing to the Nigerian movie industry. Nobody said anything about his works being perfect, but, truth be told, he is one of the very few that are creating exportable materials that are original to the Nigerian culture and people. Secondly, whether as an average audience that just wants to enjoy a movie or a critical audience or even a movie reviewer like me, this, A Naija Christmas will definitely make you smile sheepishly and then, proudly.

 

Picture credits- Internet and Netflix