Three thoughts about Afamefuna

This is not exactly a technical review.

1. Good directors improve acting.

Of all the issues Kayode Kasum’s films have had over the years, acting can hardly be said to be one of them. I think for many actors in Afamefuna bar the veterans, this movie is probably their finest work so far (I’m looking at you, Alex Ekubo). Just look at how Stan Nze was in his full element, missing zero beats. His role as Afam fit him like a glove.

But then again, I’m of the opinion that directors, ill-fitting stories and casting errors let our actors down more than a lack of acting talent.

I also think Afamefuna would never have been as good as it is if it was delivered solely in English. Sometimes I feel English holds us back from our most impactful artistic expressions, especially of the visual kind. The Igbo language elevated this film, just like Kayode Kasum elevated the acting.

That said, Kanayo O. Kanayo and Segun Arinze have aged incredibly well.

The cinematography get as e be sha. And there are a lot of gaps but that’s not why I’m writing this.

2. Characterisation doesn’t have to be complicated but it must be intentional.

I read something about how Amaka felt more like an object of desire and not as a character whose role advanced the plot. I’m not sure I agree. This isn’t her story but at the same time, a lot can be said about the casting. Colourism for the sake of colourism? Why do we have a Milky Troblerone babe even though both parents are Mars?

Again, there are gaps, that leave me with questions but I’m not about to get into all of that.

That said, I don’t think Amaka settled for Afam. Sometimes “better” isn’t always upwards, it’s sideways.

Afam seemed to have always gotten along with Amaka and I felt some mutual affection was there from the beginning, even if it wasn’t romantic.

I also don’t have a problem with Afam getting with her. She’s not Paul’s property and it’s not a betrayal for him to go for her so he did not break the bro code. Rather, Paul that fucking guy, did so the moment he said Afam wasn’t his brother.

But did this happen over a couple of months, days or hours? We have no idea. Gaps.

3. Can apprenticeship be institutionalised?

In 2013, 530,700 young Germans started apprenticeships. In the same year, just under 500,000 Germans were admitted for a University degree. The German apprenticeship system is legendary; millions of Germans never went to University but completed their ‘degree’ via an apprenticeship.

What I’ve noticed/realised is that successful policies generally tend to be designed to support cultural practices that have been around for a long time.

I think parallels can be drawn between the German system which has been around for around a millennium and the Igbo apprenticeship system. The only difference is that one is institutionalised while the other isn’t.

Make of that what you will.

Now back to the film. I think it’s a good attempt that could have been much better with a bit of thinking. In the end, it felt like the storytellers were unclear about what story they wanted to tell and how they wanted to stick the landing.