Director: Genevieve Nnaji
Starring: Pete Edochie, Genevieve Nnaji, Nkem Owoh, Sani Muazu, Onyeka Onwenu, Kanayo O. Kanayo, Kalu Ikeagwu, Ngozi Ezeonu, Yakubu Mohammed, Jemima Osunde
Lionheart has been on people’s minds since it premiered at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival, on September 7. Expectations increased further with the news that internet streaming giant Netflix had bought its worldwide distribution rights thereby making Lionheart its first original Nigerian film. All that happened in Toronto, Canada. Parading stars like Pete Edochie, Nkem Owoh, Onyeka Onwenu among others, the excitement was palpable. Just before the end of 2018, Christmas came early as Lionheart was finally in the cinemas and of course Netflix.
Lionheart is the name of the transport company owned by Chief Ernest Obiagu (Pete Edochie). His daughter, Adaeze assists him in the midst of an all-male top executive. His son, Obiora (Chibuzo ‘Phyno’ Azubuike) is more interested in music. Chief suddenly takes ill and contrary to Adaeze’s expectations, someone else is brought in to act in Chief’s stead as MD. That someone is Godswill Obiagu (Nkem Owoh), chief’s brother and Adaeze’s uncle. Under normal Nollywood circumstances, seeing Nkem Owoh a.k.a Osuofia as anyone’s uncle in that kind of set up would mean a few predictable things: Uncle would be a mean man; uncle would proceed to steal the company right from under his brother and niece. Mercifully, this isn’t what happens, in spite of efforts from the power-hungry Samuel Akah (Kalu Ikeagwu) and corporate poacher Igwe Pascal (Kanayo O. Kanayo).
Then, there is the Kannywood connection. The Maikanos led by father, Alhaji Maikano, are teaming up with the Obiagus. His heir apparent, Hamza, who is also interested in Adaeze, is part of the business deal too.
I was not sure what to expect as I waited for Lionheart with some trepidation: What kind of performance could one expect from the film’s major stars? Which version of themselves were they bringing? You know, quite a few of our actors and actresses are more concerned with projecting their celebrity statuses in their acting regardless of what’s in the story. Some even say things like “My fans expect me to dress very well in films”. What if you’re portraying a character who is very poor?
But I digress. Anyway, it isn’t that I expect any of the big names to disappoint. The very fact that they are big names, who may be already set in their ways, is what I was most concerned about. What do you expect from an Nkem Owoh in a film? Would he be able to rein in his Osuofia persona? Mind you, this doesn’t bother many people because his fans would prefer him to be Osuofia in every film if it is possible. I had also wondered whether Pete Edochie would successfully act out of character by not acting as himself? Again, like Nkem Owoh, there are not many people complaining about Pete Edochie acting as himself in many a film.
Fortunately, I can report that most of my fears were unfounded. Or perhaps, there was someone else on the crew who had my same fears, who ensured they did not come to pass. Nkem Owoh is largely controlled and does not do too much; and he is not predictable. Pete Edochie gives his most naturally relaxed performance. One notices a certain chemistry or camaraderie among the actors and actresses that’s very believable.
There’s more to like about Lionheart. Top on my list is its cinematography. Lionheart is beautifully shot. One gets to see Enugu and Kano from a different angle, quite literally. And there are the little unobtrusive touches: Adaeze in Kano, Adaeze jogging in the morning while her car and driver drive behind her, the cinematography – this is not actually a little touch. Have I mentioned the subtitling which is quite good? The first Nigerian film I saw on Netflix was Fifty and the subtitling was horrendous so much that even characters’ names were mangled.
What’s the flip side you ask? There is no fundamental flip. Sure, there are obvious things one can point to. For instance, the pitch/presentation by the Lionheart Company is just a group of people watching a TV commercial. And you wonder why they needed to wait for Adaeze to arrive before starting the meeting. Anyone could have done, all they had to do was press ‘Play’. The challenge really is how much to say that wouldn’t amount to a remake of the film by which time it would no longer be Genevieve Nnaji’s film. As it’s her first film, especially because it’s her first film, one must endeavour to speak now: Many actors seemed underutilised. Ngozi Ezeonu gives a good account of herself in her one real scene. Kalu Ikeagwu, for a man as ambitious as his character is, how is it that he does not attempt to get close to the chairman’s daughter? And why does Adaeze have no friends? Lionheart at 95 minutes could have stretched to 2 hours.
As a mother of three girls, I’m personally happy that there are now more stories showing that women are capable. There is Red Hibiscus Hotel (Zainab Balogun, in which a couple, who have only one daughter, leave her in charge. In Lara and the Beat, two suddenly orphaned sisters, Dara (Somkele Idalama) and Lara (Sei Shay) wake up one day poor when an uncle scams the office. Unlike Lionheart’s MD, they cannot keep their dad’s company.
All said, you really should see Lionheart.
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