Director Kayode Kasum is one of the best in his craft no doubt. Unique for his fearlessness in exploring uncharted territories in his films.
Recently, he gave us Ile Owo and Obara’m, two critically acclaimed movies of the horror and musicals themes respectively.
And if there is one thing that is certain when you are ditching stereotypes, not everyone will understand you. And that is fine. I like to think of myself as revolutionary so even when I don’t get the creators’ thought process at a glance, I try to seek them out where they speak about their work. That often helps me to get their perspective or rizz as you children nowadays call it.
In one interview for Ile Owo, Kayode Kasum stated that he made that movie as a test run for the bigger project coming. While in another interview for Obara’m, he said wanted a movie that his grandmother would be able to watch and relate to. And I feel him.
But then again, what about us ? When will Mr.Kayode start making movies for us?
Yes. From the point of making its theatrical debut to, now that it’s being aired on Netflix, Obara’m has had quite the walk since its release in August 2022.
But, best believe, if Obara’m is to be regarded as something passable, it has to be regarded just as he said : made- for- grannies. If it is to be regarded as something meant for us, then there is a mistake somewhere and we’d have to wake the sleeping dogs.
First is the writers he uses, especially in Ile-Owo and Obara’m. They need to be stopped. They are unhinged. Then we will get to his choice of lead female characters in the same movies.
Immaculata in Ile-Owo fumbled through her delivery. Nancy Isime too in Obara’m. Oh, I know exactly how problematic that discourse is but it doesn’t take away the fact Nancy’s acting is just passable. Not worth all the hype.
This is no hater’s parade, just hard cold facts.
We need Kayode Kasum to make movies for us!
