TODAY at 7.30pm, the ace cinematographer and storyteller, Tunde Kelani, will take his turn at showcasing his old works at the ongoing 7th Realtime International Film Festival, RTF – the 8-day (August 19-27) feast of images and sound holding at various venues in Lagos.
Two of his famous works, ‘Thunderbolt’ (2001) and ‘The Campus Queen’ (2004), will be screened back-to-back at the Foodcourt of Freedom Park by Broad street, Lagos.
The films are being screened on the platform of the ‘Nollywood Classics’ segment of the RTF 2022. The segment, according to the founder/director of the festival, Stanlee Ohikhuare, “has been designed to act as a “connector between generations of filmmakers”, and as well as “bridge the gaps often seen within several film traditions and, Nigerian cultures.”
Thunderbolt: Magun is a 2001 drama based on a book titled, Magun written by Adebayo Faleti and adapted for screenplay by Femi Kayode. It stars among others popular actirs: Lanre Balogun as Yinka Ajiboye; Uche Osotule (Ngozi Ajiboye); Ngozi Nwosu (Janet); Bukky Ajayi (Mama Tutu); Larinde Akinleye (Vee Pee); Wale Macaulay (Dr. Dimeji Taiwo); Yemi Solade (Dele Ibrahim), and the author of the drama, Adebayo Faleti as Herbalist.
Synopsis: Yinka, a Yoruba man falls in love with and marries Ngozi, an Igbo lady during their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. Their marriage hits the rocks when false rumours of infidelity by Ngozi are made known to Yinka by his friends as Ngozi and Yinka spend long periods apart. His ego bruised and his insecurity heightened, Yinka engages the services of a babalawo who inflicts Ngozi with “Magun”, a chastity-control mechanism. Ngozi realises this and has a few days to live due to the effect of the magun. She enlists the help of her friend Janet and Mama Tutu who encourage her to accept Dr. Dimeji Taiwo’s proposition. He is aware of the magun placed on Ngozi but mates with her for research purposes. In the process, he starts coughing up blood and is choking but is saved by the babalawo and Ngozi’s curse is lifted.
The Campus Queen, accompanied by music, dance and activism, depicts the lifestyle of students in university campuses; and spotlights the urge for power and supremacy by student clubs.
It stars in the lead the late music superstar, Lanre Fasasi aka Sound Sultan, with the ace dancer/choreographer, Segun Adefila as lead support. Others in the sterling cast include: Jide Kosoko, Lere Paimo, Khabirat Kafidipe, Tope Idowu, Afeez Oyetoro, Serah Mbaka, and te late veteran writer and Yoruba academic, Akinwunmi Isola.
The film premiered at the 2004 edition of the African Film Festival in New York City, U.S.A, and was also the official film selection at the Black Film Festival in Cameroon.
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Kelani’s shots today comes on the heel of his close close associate and project partner, Femi Odugbemi, whose socially-conscious film, Maroko reflecting on State-backed oppression of the poor masses by land grabbing greed of the elites, was last (Tuesday) night, screened to loud applause and critical engagement by the audience.
The “Nollywood Classics Showcase” was launched Monday, August 23, with ‘Vigilante’ (1988) and Ose Sango (1991) produced by the filmic Adesanya brothers – Adedeji and Afolabi, the former Managing Director of Nigerian Film Corporation, NFC, who after the screening, had a riveting engagement with the audience, comprising fellow Nigerian filmmakers and a few of the international participants in the festival.
Other “classics” films in the segment, which is running throughout the duration of the festival, are: Hostages (1 hr. 56 mins; 1997), directed by Tade Ogidan for OGD Pictures; The Kingmaker (2002), directed by Fred Amata, produced by Olu and Joke Jacobs, for Lufodo Productions; and Heritage (89mins; 2003), written, directed, and produced by Ladi Ladebo for Ladi Ladebo Productions.
FESTIVAL founder and Director of RTF, Stanlee Ohikhuare, said the films showing in the segment
“have been specially selected to show the various tendencies of the basis of what is today known as the Nollywood film production aesthetics.”
Added the multi-skilled filmmaker and festival director, “Importantly, the selected films will serve as educational and mentoring tools for the pool of young filmmakers who may never have encountered them or their makers, and who form the bulk of the festival’s participants and patrons.
Continued Ohikhuare: “The plan is to use the edition to pay tribute to the “labour of the heroes past” by showcasing high points of the glorious moments in the chequered journeys of the Nigerian cinema. “This will be done through the showcasing of some of the films that made a huge and impactful impression in the 1990s through the 2000s before the now famous ‘Nollywood’ came to formally acquire its name and current character.”
Further details on the full programming content of the festival can be seen at www.realtimefilmfestival.com.
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