Tango With Me
Director: Mahmood Ali Balogun
CAST: Genevieve Nnaji, Joke Silva, Joseph Benjamin, Alex Usifo, Tina Mba and Ahmed Yerima
“Tango With Me” is movie about a newlywed couple Lola (Genevieve Nnaji) and Uzo (Joseph Benjamin); a couple who bridge many obstacles and inter-tribal differences to make a perfect wedding. They look forward to a life of bliss until the happiest day of their lives becomes the worst. Lola, who gets married as a virgin, is defiled by a gang of armed robbers on their wedding night. She becomes a broken woman and the effect of this sad event takes a toll on the couple as they gradually begin to live like strangers as it became difficult to deal with the issue. Lola feels betrayed that God abandoned her while Uzo blames himself for not being able to protect his wife in spite of the vows he made in church. As things get worse for them, Lola suggests they see a counsellor which does not go down well with Uzo, who believes the solution to their problem lies within them. The get counselled separately but it doesn’t seem to work.
Uzo finds solace in liquor and his boss, Miss Bankole (Tina Mba), who is all over him. Things become worse when Lola discovers she is pregnant. Uzo insists on an abortion but Lola, who has found a new faith, resolves to keep the baby.
Lola moves out of the house in defiance to her husband’s instruction and values of her Christian faith. Her father, played by Ahmed Yerima, insists he would have no hand in it as he had earlier warned her about marrying an Ibo boy. He however changes his mind and gives a lesson on patience and endurance using the tango dance with his wife (Joke Silva). Her mother is not amused with the separation and scolds her for leaving her husband.
The movie is a contemporary story about forgiveness, our core values of faith and one story that proves that love covers all. The storyline is familiar but unique as it is told in a different way. It is able to carry its audience from the beginning to the climax. The camera works and lightning are good and the soundtrack used fell in step with the action of the movie, although it gets a bit too loud in some scenes and drowns out the actors’ voices. The use of natural scenery is commendable. However, there are flaws in some of the costumes used. For instance, the beard on Joseph Benjamin’s face is quite obvious that it is a fake beard.
The use of original figures is laudable. An example is the use of NTA’s Cyril Stober as a newscaster. This makes the movie realistic and is a relief from the video tapes usually obviously recorded and played to pass as news in some movies. The movie is also thought provoking as it brings to the core an issue that some couples, especially women, have faced in the past and are still unable to get over it.
The cast in the movie is a combination of the old and the new generation. Veterans like Alex Usifo, Barbara Soky and Joke Silva brought their wealth of experience and certainly added more flavour to the movie.
The movie in its totality is good one and a huge leap in the right direction for Nollywood.
Filed Under: Movie Review
