- Farmer’s Bride movie was released to the cinemas on September 27
- It was directed by Jack'enneth Opukeme and Adebayo Tijani and starred seasoned names such as Femi Branch, Mercy Aigbe and Tobi Bakre
- TheRadar reviews the movie which earned N37.3 million in its opening weekend
As is the trend in Nollywood these days, influencers and big names are often the first selling point of a movie before other issues like the plot and other theatrical elements are put into consideration.
For Farmer’s Bride, directed by Jack'enneth Opukeme and Adebayo Tijani, it isn’t the typical repetitive influencer faces that critics are getting tired of, rather it’s a mix of the old and new, the popular and up-and-coming, experience and talent.
Headlined by veteran ace actor Femi Branch who nailed his role in House of Ga’a, fast-rising talent Gbubemi Ejeye, seasoned Tobi Bakre and ageless Mercy Aigbe, the movie did deliver on its story mandate, and more, and few complaints could be made about it.
The story is set in a typical rural Nigerian area in the 1980s, with Femi Branch playing Odun, a rich farmer who lost his wife but remarries a young lady, Gbubemi Ejeye (Funmi). Odun has a sister-in-law, played by Mercy Aigbe, and the two were inseparable till his death.
Their relationship was a headache to Funmi the young bride, who is charmed by the youthful brawn of Tobi Bakre (Femi), and the chain of events that followed made the film an unpredictable one till the very end.
The irony of the situation, particularly in Funmi’s case, is that the derided old man would prove to be a better option than the young, energetic lover boy. She didn’t appreciate the old age and care of Odun when he was alive. And since she was married to him out of her will, Odun stood no chance of proving himself no matter how hard he tried.
The youthful Femi, however, was Funmi’s choice. He wasn’t much older, and had the physical beauty and strength she wanted in a man. However, the error of her ways would take an hour to unbundle as viewers were left on the edge of their seats till the abrupt ending of the movie.
While it is difficult to think of a better ending for Farmer’s Bride, the ending felt abrupt. The command of English of Odun and Iya Femi wasn’t’ realistic for people who were supposedly uneducated and lived all their lives in the village. Iya Femi (Mercy Aigbe even pronounced the ‘th’ consonant sound perfectly) – that’s too much for a rural dweller.
The same applies to Funmi, even though her young age and brilliance could pass as fairly decent excuses. Even the university drop-out Femi didn’t speak as crisply as the secondary school leavers in the movie.
Social media and marital theatrics have also made many forget how fantastic an actor Mercy Aigbe is. Her performance is a positive from the movie while Tobi Bakre continues to see his stocks appreciate with each passing performance.
Despite its flaws in language portrayal and an abrupt ending, Farmer's Bride stands out for its captivating storyline, unpredictable twists, and stellar performances. The film is an illustration of a Yoruba saying that loosely translates to: if a woman does not try out two husbands, she won’t know which is better.
Also, the chemistry between the cast, particularly the dynamics between Mercy Aigbe, Femi Branch, and the rising star Gbubemi Ejeye, added spice to the film. Famer’s Bride may not have tied up every loose end, but it certainly held its own as an engaging experience that leaves viewers with much to reflect on about love, choices, and consequences.
Throwback Thursday: 10 nostalgic Nigerian TV series only millennials would remember
Earlier, TheRadar reported old television series that bonded people as friends, neighbours, siblings and family.
These movies, which would trigger nostalgia in the majority of millennials, kept everyone on their toes running because no one wanted to miss them. They include Fuji House of Commotion, Super Story and Papa Ajasco.