Director: Ugo Ugbor
Story: Ejike Chinedu Obim
Cast: Yul Edochie, Mercy Aigbe, Bolanle Ninalowo, Bella Ebinum, Ezeonu Charity
Year: 2017
Genre: Drama
Time: 1 hour 31 minutes
Written by Ejike Chinedu, Waiting For Tomorrow centers around a married couple, Desmond and Tricia (Yul Edochie and Mercy Aigbe), in desperate need of a child. Desmond is infertile, knows it, but conceals it. His mother (in the dark on his status) keeps visiting his home to cause havoc and plague his wife. Tricia had been subjected to medical and spiritual examinations which proved there was nothing wrong with her. Desmond on the other hand constantly avoided being tested and instead sought to adopt a child. But Tricia’s won’t take it, and soon she starts suspecting he’s really the problem. With time and odds against him, and because he couldn’t own up to his condition, he runs to his Doctor friend (Bola Ninalowo) for help.
First of all, I see no reason for him to have gone ahead with a marriage fully aware of his incapacity. Besides, seven years was too long to keep dodging just one fertility test without raising eyebrows. At a point, when the pressure on the wife was too much, she locked both her husband and the mother-in-law outside the house. If it weren’t for being a film, then that’d have been completely inconcievable. It’s not done anywhere and it’s hardly heard off. No wife would fall peaceable asleep with her family knocking on her front door through the night. Yul Edochie took on his character quite well, but his father (who appeared near the end) was a sham of a performance. His costume even bothered me. Another distasteful performance was from Ijeoma (Bella Ebinum playing Desmond’s sister). Her scene in Mercy Aigbe’s office was a pain to watch. The idea she came with a grudge was clear enough, but her attempt to convey her ill-feelings fell on it’s face.
The film was shot by Nelson Obinna and the camera angles were creative. I liked the mirror effect in a scene where Mercy Aigbe got tied up. The sound effects were in constant sync with each scene and all the locations were comfortable. I especially loved the aerial views at night. Costumes (by Angel Nwakibe) and makeup get checks, including the audio quality. Visuals were a forgivable fluctuation of funny filters every now and then. Mercy Aigbe did a good job in conveying the grief of a childless wife. Her fury whenever she was upset may be likened to a Shola Sobowale display – loud and charged. Needless to say, both lead actors were the perfect combination for this story. Waiting For Tomorrow was directed by Ugo Ugbor and is now showing on IrokoTV.
It’s a mix of heartaches and deceit for a covetable 4/10.
