Director: Tolu Awobiyi
Cast: Timini Egbuson, Wale Ojo, Daniel Etim-Effiong, Sophie Alakija, Mofehintola Jebutu, Sandra Okunzuwa, Tolu Osaile
Year of Release: 2023
Streaming on: Prime Video
In A Young Time Ago, an ex-convict, Tayo(Daniel Effiong) is working as a restaurant manager for his mentor, Uncle G(Wole Ojo), a not-so-subtle matchmaker who has now set Tayo up with his niece- Ukara(Sandra Okunzuwa).
Because Tayo and Ukara have no choice than to comply, they find themselves making small talk which surprisingly graduates to swapping life’s stories in a blink of an eye.
This is where Tayo recounts his days at the University of Ibadan where falling for his course mate, Kemi( Tolu Osaile) had gotten him tangled up in a revenge murder case after she was raped.
The plot then thickens when it is revealed this match made by Uncle G ( who actually met Tayo in prison) is a plot to reunite Tayo with Kemi, his long time lover.
It was a good one! What hit home first and foremost because of how simple the storytelling was despite the fact that it lugged several themes-romance, sacrifice, mystery.
The dialogue however left a little to be desired. It was too gen Z for an event that happened a decade ago.
The fantastical end though—the bit where (Angel) Gabriel flew away. Lmao. It was such a nice touch and would have been nicer if we had scenes of Tayo and Uncle G in the prison doing the human-Angel dynamics.
But even at its level, A Young Time Ago is weirdly funny and delulu. I loved it !
A Young Time Ago rates a 7/10 at XploreNollywood
