Director, Story: Frank Rajah Arase
Cast: Ramsey Nouah, Okawa Shaznay
Genre: Romance
Year: 2017
Duration: 1hr 36mins
There were only two characters in this masterpiece, a feat achieved without such comedy in Shirley Frimpong’s Rebecca. Written and directed by Frank Rajah Arase (Ghana Must Go, Iyore), Soul Tie is a sensational story that stimulates questions on patience and the real purpose of marriage. It centers on a newly wedded couple and the first three weeks into marriage. The wife (Okawa Shaznay) had been celibate for six months before saying “I do”. On the wedding night she surprises her husband (Ramsey Nouah) with the news of a 40-day sex fast. She was midway through and whether he liked it or not he had to wait. The waiting period turns into the exciting bulk of this unpredictable script.
Adding to the fact this story was tastefully put together, the actors were also the perfect match. Ramsey Nouah, fresh-out of ’76 (another film set in the past), was exceptional as a romantic. He expressed his hormonal-charge in angry fits of Yoruba and Pidgin. I can’t imagine what would’ve happened if she’d begun the fast three days before. Okawa Shaznay played her role as straight-faced as possible. Her crying scenes were next to none. Her hair-do (by Hillary Touch and Esther Uwaifo) and costumes (by Chiemela Nwagboso) were notably old school, including Ramsey’s flared trousers and glam rock costume. His Afro may not have been well done but his white shoes were something to behold.
Frank Rajah’s attempt to put the film in the 70’s paid off, especially with the locations and beat up truck. The new door to the couple’s bedroom may have been post-Y2K, but the props like the boxed TV and wooden picture frames were on point. The background playlist and sound engineering (by Izu Anozie) were brilliant. Evergreen tracks from Ebenezer Obey to Fela Kuti and Sir Victor Uwaifo played back to back.
Shot by Austin Nwaolie, Soul Tie is a must watch worth 8/10.
