Movie Title: The Wait
Duration: 2 hours, 14 minutes
Release date: January 13, 2023
Cast: Nse Ikpe Etim, Ini Dima-Okojie, Deyemi Okanlawon, Jimmy Odukoya, Chimezie Imo, Joke Silva, Kate Henshaw, Meg Otanwa, Uche Chika Elumelu, Aisha Sanni-Shittu and Juliana Olayode
Director: Yemi Morafa and Fiyin Gambo
An exciting feature of Nollywood movies is that apart from beautiful locations, original stories, and famous actors, the producers strive to teach viewers different moral lessons. This is because you can hardly watch a Nollywood movie and not get a broader view of social issues.
Kicking off the list of movies scheduled for January 2023, Netflix recently released a 2021 faith-based drama titled “The Wait.”
Inspired by the book “God’s Waiting Room” written by prominent Nigerian lawyer Yewande Zaccheaus, the film tells the stories of different women dealing with the problem of infertility.
Their inability to give birth creates a safe space where they support each other.
There is no doubt that The Wait is a must see movie, especially for women. While it has a solid concept, its execution makes it difficult to fully immerse yourself in the film without identifying its technical flaws.
the plot
The movie mainly revolves around a doctor named Nara. His job role as an obstetrician allows him to witness the struggles that come with childbirth. This pushes her to create a support group where women can rant about the issues that affect them.
In this group we have Nkechi, a kind and optimistic architect who has had a difficult time having children. Although she has a supportive husband, she still puts intense pressure on herself to have children.
Then there’s Bayo, a man whose addition to the group caused quite a stir among the ladies. During his discussion, it was revealed that Bayo joined the group to help his wife, who had suffered five miscarriages. This incident negatively affected his mental state and his religious beliefs.
Despite being the beacon of hope for mothers-to-be, Nara has issues that she is dealing with. Recently divorced from a man who cheated on her, she faces discrimination from her mother and her society for her choices.
In the end, we see Nara and the other characters enjoying wonderful results after several years of waiting.
The good
Waiting teaches a strong moral lesson that explains the importance of patience. It shows that no matter how turbulent a situation is, if one is willing to persevere and not lose hope, there is always a rainbow at the end. Also, the movie emphasizes the need to have a strong circle of people who support you.
As for the casting choices, kudos to the casting directors. Nse Ikpe Etim gives a good performance as Nara. It was fun to see her play a character who society says is vulnerable but knows deep down that she’s more robust than everyone realizes. Jimmy Odukoya also excels in his role as Akin. He convinced us to be a supportive husband who protects his wife against all odds.
Lastly, the use of props in this film is remarkable. A favorite reference would be the first scene of the movie, where we see a woman in labor. The delivery room seemed real, and the presence of a newborn baby was the icing on the cake. It was a testament to how detailed the producers were.
The bad
Let’s start with the cinematography. The lighting in some scenes lacked the presence of a professional. That is, they were not working at all. It also didn’t help that the background noise made things worse. And don’t get us started on those transitions.
While we love the idea of doing something different with the way flashbacks are rendered, the transitions were sloppy and failed to give the desired cinematic effect.
Moving on to the script, it wasn’t bad at all, but the lines of dialogue are inexcusable. Most of them sounded unrealistic and too westernized. It would have made a lot of sense if an indigenous element had been added, making the scenes seem more relatable.
verd final movie
7/10. Despite the glitches in The Wait, the movie takes the viewer on an emotional roller coaster that will leave a smile on her face after the movie ends.
The Wait is available to stream on Netflix.
