Movie Review: Distance between

Title: Distance between

Starring: Rita Dominic, Mercy Johnson, Yemi Blaq, Kalu Ikeagwu

Producers: Remi Ibinola and Memry Savannu Ayotunde

Director: Izu Ojukwu
















Year of production: 2008

Country: Nigeria

Genre: Drama/Romance

Language: English

Trailer: Could not find one. If anyone knows where I can find a trailer online, please let me know and I will update the post.

Summary/synopsis: Rita Dominic is Preye, while Mercy Johnson plays her best friend (Mosun). Right from the onset, it is clear that Preye has many issues – she is extremely promiscuous, and we soon learn that she is acting out due to sexual abuse she suffered as a child. Akin (played by Yemi Blaq) is her long suffering boyfriend. While Mosun appears to be extremely responsible, hardworking, and faithful to her friend, she is wrestling with demons too. She was also abused as a child, and in contrast to her friend, is turned off men. Kalu Ikeagwu plays an advert executive (Ike). Preye runs into him while she is hawking a show she wants to put on the air and they promptly hook up. It all gets very complicated and very emotional very fast.

REVIEW
Positives: I love Izu Ojukwu. He is officially one of my favorite Nollywood directors. What a movie. WHAT A MOVIE!! This movie is sexy, complex, deep, accessible, nuanced. It is not simplistic, its not linear, but its very logical. Gets you right in the gut! The main cast outdid themselves on this one. I have always loved all the four of the main actors, but this is by far the best work for all of them. Fantastic acting. Tremendous! Rita, as Preye was just sterling. She was promiscuous and vulnerable all at the same time. And Mercy Johnsohn, what an actress. This role has finally begun to live up to her talent. She was tremendous as the frigid, yet loyal friend. Kalu was sexy as always, and Yemi Blaq – his character was so complicated, so conflicted, so human, so frail - just beautiful to watch!

The flashbacks were so beautiful, dripping with meaning, even if much was not said. The girls who played the young Preye and Mosun were very good actresses. And even if the dressing did not fit the period, it was shot in such a way that it looked and felt like the distant past. You were afraid with them as they faced their molesters. You felt their pain. Most of the supporting cast was excellent as well. I just loved it. And it was totally unpredictable. Totally. Some things happened and I was like - what? Really? Wow! What is gonna happen next?

One more thing though: There is a slowness and deliberateness about Izu's movies that may not play well with many Naija movie lovers. I think many people watch the movie for the drama, the confrontation, the theatrical nature of our productions. This is more restrained. It’s a whole different feel, but I was loving it all the way. It’s funny that I have just watched a mini soap by Izu Ojukwu, and I feel like I have watched something really deep and important. You can feel the intelligence in the crafting of this one.

Negatives: There were some problems with the sound editing, at least in my copy, but it did not ruin it. The weak link among the actors was Kalu's fiancé in the movie. She was trying too hard to be the high society girlfriend and it did not flow naturally.

The major flaw, I think, is that they wimped out at the end. The ending was too anticlimactic, too easy. I was actually disappointed by it. I wanted a little more meat and bones on that ending. You don't build that kind of suspense and then end it like that now! Ah!!

And then there were too many questions unanswered - and a few subplots that were not followed through. Of all of them though, the one that bothered me the most was that the core issue of sexual abuse was never really dealt with. I don't want to reveal the story, but there was no real confrontation or resolution there. That could have been fleshed out a little more. Or perhaps another movie? I cannot think of too many Nigerian movies that left me wanting more, but this one did. Also it’s not a movie for kids. There is a lot of bed hopping – premarital, extra marital, casual sex, one night stands. However, the whole idea is not to glorify any of those things – at least not deliberately. The movie shows that difficult situations ensue when human beings indulge in complicated sexual activities.

Lessons/worldview/philosophy: This movie brings some very complicated issues to light – the limits of friendship, marital fidelity, the role of family in crisis, etc. The most important issue raised though, is the complex nature of child abuse and its consequences. Anybody conversant with abuse will tell you that the effects go way beyond the immediate act itself. If care is not taken, a child abuser can take not just the child’s present, but their future as well. We don’t like to talk about these things in our society. We like to pretend that they don’t happen. We ignore the broken people in our midst and pretend that their pain does not exist. Well you know what happens with broken people? They tend to cut – and it hurts.

Rating: 9.5/10. Just outstanding stuff.

More reviews here and here


Availability: I bought my copy here.
You may want to call them and find a copy. But check all possible sources.