“My prayer for you is that you never stop praying!”
From the tables of Nemsia Studios comes this action drama centred on the Hausa Dambe boxing/martial arts, the impact of childhood trauma, betrayal, quest for vengeance, corruption, power drunkenness, and the ultimate fight for freedom.
PLOT
Adigun (Tobi Bakre) is a fighter and trainer for the Dambe fight. His son, Sukanmi ‘SUKY’ (James Damilare), is his number one fan who looks up to his father so much so that he would do anything to go watch his matches. Until one day, tragedy strikes.
Devastated, broken & distraught, young teenage Suky would then learn to grow up faster than usual. With pains in his heart, he carries a huge burden that would leave him without a smile as determination is the only thing he sees.
Now an adult, tragedy strikes yet again. This time, Suky ends up in a place where a fight for survival is a fight for freedom, revenge being his foremost desire. But the questions are: will he get this freedom, or will he get his own pound of flesh when or if the occasion presents itself?
MY TAKE
Straight up, successfully, this movie right here has been to my list of favorite movies. If "unusual" was a film as far as Nollywood is concerned, then, this is it! THIS IS IT!
While the official poster and the very low PR tactics may not do justice to the content of this movie prior to its release, I guess good things speak for themselves.
See, it’s not about the hype. It’s about the TYPE! Movies like this will remain on the lips of many for a very long time, unlike the ones that fade away from the memory of viewers alongside its marketing buzz!
All the actors understood the assignment and delivered crisp. Message was passed crystal clear. The story was emotional and beautiful. The plot was incredible. The direction was superbly brilliant. Everything, like well sourced ingredients for a delicious soup or meal, all came together nicely for an amazing execution.
The duration was apt. There were no unnecessary scenes or repetitive dialogues. The movie delved straight to the point. No overly dragged scenes. Costume and makeup were cool. I loved Dr. Simi’s (Bimbo Ademoye) natural hair and look. It blended with the color grading of the movie.
Now, let’s talk about the cinematography, sound, editing, theatrics, choreography…these were simply applaudable! The fight scenes looked real. Though I can’t say the same of the injury details and subtitling. Some of the scars seem to be unsure where to be at certain times. The bloods sometimes too looked somewhat pinkish, especially when seen on the hand.
Since it’s a movie acted originally in the Yoruba language, some of the translations to English were sometimes rather ‘funny’ (for lack of a better word)... or maybe let’s just say awkward!
The biggest lesson I took from this was how Suky continued to pray even when heavily wounded and bleeding. Never lose sight of the goal, no matter what! Loved the depiction of Islamic prayers.
Although this movie is super interesting, educational, and entertaining (for boxing lovers), compelling and relatable, it, however, comes with its flaws, which is not unusual. Hence, I have questions:
I thought helmets were protective gears. How come people would get hit with a bare hand on their heads and foreheads whilst wearing helmets, and they bleed and die?
Where did those prisoners see those monies they were using to place bets for fights?
The guy from Suky’s past, how did he end up in prison? Was he later apprehended, tried, and sentenced? Or was he just brought to the prison arena for the Dambe fight?
Conclusively, this movie is a must-watch! Loved the ending. Loved the talks surrounding the bird. That was absolutely phenomenal. The lead actor who played Suky, I can’t wait to see him feature in a Hollywood action movie! Guy is GOOOOOOD!
Our Bims represented as usual; with her iconic eye rolls, facial expressions, and gesticulations. The guy that played Marshall and also Suky’s coach, they’re good! In fact, everyone on this project did exceptionally well as they all ate their roles!
This comes highly recommended at a solid 8.5/10.
Thanks for gracing this post.
Greetings!
