Movie Review -
If the Tv drama “Battle On Buka Street” had a human identity, It would have easily passed for a Nigerian child portraying the Nigerian reality as Funke Akindele in what she called a farewell project invariably outdid herself.
The summary of the entire 2h 20mins Nollywood blockbuster is that two half sisters born into a lifetime of unforgiving conflict and rivalry finally finds themselves in a crossroad of regrets and forgiveness but not without trials.
Although the storyline could’ve been better but it’s still not bad. The setting was super great, tasteful cinematography, the plot, twist, acting and casting was mounded to perfection.
While at it, the first thing that caught my attention was the transition of young Nkem Owoh and when I saw Bimbo Ademoye playing the young Shola Sabowale I felt it in my bone marrow because the switch and match must’ve been made in heaven.
The setting and character plot at Buka Street was just so accurate and it felt so real, kudos to all the characters for blending so seamlessly into the natural human geography. No one would’ve guessed it was only a movie.
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The twins were annoying but they reminded me of Cinderella’s evil twin sisters and it checked considering Mercy Johnson’s accurate portrayal of the rival-vengeful half sister who would’ve done anything to win.
Although Mercy Johnson’s Igbo diction was a little off and practically sold her away, I think it can be overlooked as it was compensated by her superior acting skill. Total grandeur.
I must admit that Funke Akindele’s acting was totally flawless and picking Mercy Johnson to play her rival half sister has to be one of the best decisions she’s made as a professional.
The fight scenes at Buka Street was a bit brutal but I enjoyed it for the originality and chaotic nature. The tears seemed real, along with the rats and fire blast at their respect Buka. Totally awesome.
One terrible flaw I noticed was the hype and subtle elevation of Yoruba cuisine and local delicacy over the Igbo cuisine and local delicacies. If I didn’t know better I would feel it was all a deliberate attempt to exercise dominance and superiority. 🤦♂️
I didn’t like the fact that Mercy Johnson had to desperately copy Funke’s cooking because customers would not patronize her Igbo spices. For me, that is also a subtle admission that that Yoruba cuisine was superior.
Another twist I would like to applaud in this movie is the part where Funke’s children finally discovers their “dead beat, ever blamed” father was actually innocent, that he only took the blame for a crime committed by their saintly mother.
I appreciated this twist because it tells the reality of parenting and how many children end up hating one parent after being fed in lies or half truths. The truth is actually liberating.
I didn’t like Mercy Johnson’s attitude towards the cursing and cursing her children improbably. At some point I got bored and felt she was overplaying the villain role.
This drama attempts to tell in detail the reality of the average Nigerian family caught in the web of polygamy and its inevitable trials, tribulations and consequences.
It also highlights on adopted or inherited hatred that is being passed down from parents to their innocent offsprings in their indelible quest for spite or vengeance.
These, once innocent children grow up to become the titans their parents paint them to be and are set to fight the enemy they knew nothing about.
I also enjoyed the plot on Mercy Johnson’s rushed marriage failing as a result of unnecessary rivalry and Funke’s marriage also on the brink as a result of untold truths. This for me, explains the reality and grand reason many marriages are failing. Peer pressure, Rivalry, Lies.
After the little chaos at the carnival, Funke’s son, rescues Mercy Johnson’s son and brings her to the abandoned house where his father who is an escaped convict was hiding.
An escaped convict hiding from the law is one of my major issues with this movie because it puts the law and morality in a sketchy position.What message Battle On The Buka street trying to send? That an escaped convict is allowed to flee the law and legal system? I would’ve preferred he was tried and set free rather than escaping the law, for me, that is bad for morals and authority.
This is the first Nollywood drama I have seen more than three times and it never seems to get old.
Although some may argue that some of the scenes in the movie were an overkill but for me, this is one of Funke’s masterpieces that puts Nollywood drama in absolution.
UNTAMED
