Movie Review: Living in bondage by Steve Gukas

The movie titled "Living in Bondage" by Steve Gukas is a Nigerian film that portrays the reality of Nigerian society, where everyone wants to belong. Many, especially young people, would do anything to feel included, have a say, and be recognized in society. Just like Nnamdi in the movie, for some, life's situation forces them to take that dark path.




As the title suggests, "Living in Bondage" narrates how people become entangled in the pursuit of wealth, implying that many are rich and powerful yet not free. They are not free because of the price they had to pay for their wealth. The movie depicts a true Nigerian society where many rich men have died mysteriously, using their lives to pay for their freedom.



The picture quality of the movie is top-notch, very encouraging, and gives us a longing to view it to the end. The camera movement was smooth, and the screen director did a fantastic job ensuring that the men behind the camera got their shots perfectly well.



The sound quality was also excellent. The movie was free glitches; it is not out of line to say that the editor also did their job well, ensuring that each footage aligned with the right audio.




The locations used in the movie were Lagos and Owerri. The establishing shot that displays the busy road and yellow buses sends a quick message to viewers that this is Lagos. As depicted in the movie, Lagos is a big city with different locations for different classes of people. Nnamdi's character was perfectly suited to the suburban area with "face-me-I-face-you" neighbors using a public toilet with unstable light.




On the other hand, Owerri is an Igbo community where people who stay in Lagos travel to during special occasions. Using Owerri made the movie more real, as most of the cast are Igbo natives. Other scenes were shot in homes, offices, planes, churches, hospitals, and streets, making the movie real and relatable.




The characters in the movie were well-developed and suited their roles perfectly. Let's take the protagonists first:




- Nnamdi: Nnamdi is a young graduate looking for means to break forth in life, make his parents proud, and have a say in society. In the opening scene, he was portrayed as a middle-class hustler who couldn't afford what he needed. After struggling, he fell prey to the cult, "the six." He had all the money and fame but couldn't enjoy it when the run started.




- Richard Williams: Richard was the antagonist in the movie, a rich man from no particular place, although he speaks Igbo. He is bastardly rich and owns companies with power and influence. People suspected him but couldn't figure out the issue. He is the leader and lord of the "six" cult.




- Uzoma: Uzoma is the investigative blogger who dedicated his life to finding the truth. He was pained that Obinna, one of Richard's members, killed his sister and niece. Through his research, this secret act became an open scandal.




- Obinna: Obinna is a member of Richard's cult who killed his wife and only daughter. However, he was the one in real bondage in the movie, as his daughter's spirit kept appearing to him. This made him act abnormally most of the time. He finally killed himself by jumping from his 18-story building to be free.




- Toby: Toby is Nnamdi's brother, a lawyer, and his mom's favorite. Even though they are cousins, their bond is very tight. Toby stood by Nnamdi in his toughest times.




- Pastor Andy Okeke: Pastor Andy is Nnamdi's biological father, a former member of the six cult who later became a pastor. He tried to advise Nnamdi to be careful with Richard but fell on deaf ears.



Overall, the movie is very interesting, with suspense employed by the scriptwriter to keep the audience glued to the screen and anxious to know what happens next. "Living in Bondage" is not just a movie; it portrays the true challenges in the real world.