Eyimofe
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| Eyimofe | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Arie Esiri Chuko Esiri |
| Produced by | Melissa Adeyemo Arie Esiri Chuko Esiri |
| Starring | Jude Akuwudike Temi Ami-Williams |
| Cinematography | Arseni Khachaturan |
| Edited by | Andrew Stephen Lee |
| Music by | Akin Adebowale |
Production companies | GDN Studios, Kimiera, Ominira Studios |
| Distributed by | Janus Films |
Release date |
|
Running time | 114 minutes |
| Country | Nigeria |
| Languages | English Nigerian Pidgin Yoruba |
Eyimofe (Eyimofe: This Is My Desire) also known as This Is My Desire is a 2020 Nigerian drama film produced, written and directed by twin brothers Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri on their directorial debuts.[1] The film is made of two chapters called Spain and Italy.[2] The film stars Jude Akuwudike and Temi Ami-Williams in the main lead roles. The film was opened to positive reviews from critics and was screened at various global international film festivals in 17 countries.[3][4][5]
Synopsis[edit]
Split into two different chapters, the film revolves around factory worker technician Mofe (Jude Akuwudike) and hairdresser Rosa (Temi Ami-Williams) on their quest for what they anticipate and believe will be a better life on foreign shores. Mofe wishes to go to Spain and Rosa hopes to go to Italy. However, Mofe loses his family, while Rosa fails in taking care of her younger pregnant sister and marries her landlord out of necessity.
Cast[edit]
- Jude Akuwudike as Mofe
- Temi Ami-Williams as Rosa
- Cynthia Ebijie as Grace
- Tomiwa Edun as Seyi
- Jacob Alexander as Peter
- Chioma Omeruah as Mama Esther
- Ejike Asiegbu as Goddey
- Sadiq Daba as Jakpor
- Imoh Eboh as nurse
- Chiemela Azurunwa as doctor
Production[edit]
The film was announced by twin brothers Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri as they jointly worked for the project. The film marked the directorial debut for both as they co-directed the film.[6] The film was funded entirely in Nigeria and was shot in 16mm and was filmed across 48 locations in Lagos where the film was set. Few portions of the film were also shot in New York.[7] The film was awarded the 2018 Purple List Award and was chosen as one of the ten projects in 2019 IFP Narrative Lab in New York.[8]
Release[edit]
The film has screened at various international film festivals held in South Africa, Netherlands, US, Italy, Poland, UK, Spain, Brazil, Portugal, UAE, Canada, Austria, China, Greece, Egypt, Germany and India.[9][10][11]
The film was officially selected to be premiered in 17 countries in their respective film festivals as follows
- 70th Berlin International Film Festival, Germany (24 February 2020)[12][13][14]
- Vancouver International Film Festival, Canada (26 September 2020)[15]
- BFI London Film Festival, UK (11 October 2020)[16]
- 2020 Film Africa
- 2020 Indie Lisboa International Film Festival, Portugal
- 2020 Internacional de Cinema São Paulo International Film Festival/Mostra São Paulo Film Festival, Brazil[17]
- 2020 Cinecitta International Film Festival, Netherlands[18]
- AFI Film Festival, USA (20 October 2020)
- 2020 Valladolid International Film Festival, Spain
- Sharjah Film Platform Festival, UAE[19]
- 2020 Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt[20]
- 2020 Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece
- 2020 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival[21]
- 2020 New Horizons International Film Festival, Poland
- Torino Film Festival, Italy (24 November 2020)[22]
- 2020 Hainan Island International Film Festival, China[23]
- Viennale, Austria
- World Panorama section of the 51st International Film Festival of India (24 January 2021)[24]
- 2021 BlackStar Film Festival[25]
Reception[edit]
The film received positive reviews from critics. Glenn Kenny of RogerEbert.com gave it 3.5 stars out of four, writing that it is "a confident, knowing, empathetic effort. While the themes here are, of course, redolent of neorealism, the filmmakers don’t make ostentatious nods to cinema past. Their voice is their own; the camera is mobile when it needs to be, but stands still much of the time, letting the excellent cast build their characters as the events of the film test their endurance. And endurance rather than desire is what the movie is finally all about."[26]
Writing in The New Yorker, novelist Teju Cole called it an "artful and luminous film" and "a search for how best to live." Comparing it to Wong Kar Wai’s In The Mood for Love, Asghar Farhadi’s A Separation, and Mati Diop’s Atlantics, he concludes: "It is a testament to Chuko Esiri’s compact and intelligent script that the film moves by its own persuasive logic, feeling neither like a catalogue of miseries nor a sentimental exercise in third-world pluck."[27]
It was listed as one of the best African films of 2022.[28]
The film maintains a "Fresh" score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, and an average score of 7.9, after 22 reviews by critics.[29]
Awards and nominations[edit]
The film received few awards and nominations at film festivals. It won the Achille Valdata Award at the 2020 Torino International Film Festival.[30]
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Berlin International Film Festival | Best First Feature | Nominated |
| Indie Lisboa International Film Festival | Grand Prize City of Lisbon | Nominated | |
| Torino Film Festival | Prize of the City of Torino | Nominated | |
| Valladolid International Film Festival | Best Feature Film | Nominated | |
| Berlinale | Best First Film | Nominated | |
| 2021 | BlackStar Film Festival | Best Feature Narrative | Won |
| Africa Movie Academy Awards | Best Film | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Won | ||
| Best Actor in a Leading Role | Nominated | ||
| Achievement in Editing | Won | ||
| Best Nigerian Film | Won | ||
| Best Sound | Won | ||
| Best First Feature Film by a Director | Won |
References[edit]
- ^ "EYIMOFE". EYIMOFE. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe 'This Is My Desire' (2020) BFI LFF Review - A Triumph of Nigerian Cinema | The Film Magazine". 6 October 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Kiang, Jessica (1 March 2020). "'This Is My Desire': Film Review". Variety. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe (This is My Desire) Review". www.hollywoodreporter.com. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Trailer for Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) out ahead of UK premiere". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "The Esiri Brothers Take 'Eyimofe' Abroad". THISDAYLIVE. 24 October 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Grater, Tom (7 October 2020). "'Eyimofe (This Is My Desire)': Debut Trailer For Nigerian Drama Screening At LFF". Deadline. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "'Eyimofe': 3 interesting things to know about the Nigerian movie selected for the Berlin film festival". Pulse Nigeria. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe to premiere in UK as part of the activities to celebrate Nigeria at 60". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 10 October 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe selected for film festivals in Greece, Poland". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 11 November 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Nigerian Film, Eyimofe To Screen In Austria, Netherlands, Spain". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 16 October 2020. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe: A desire to migrate on screen at the Berlin film festival". InfoMigrants. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Nigerian feature, Eyimofe to show at 70th Berlin International Film Festival". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Nigerian Feature Selected at 70th Berlin International Film Festival". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe to screen at 2020 vancouver film festival today". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 26 September 2020. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe (This is My Desire)". BFI. Archived from the original on 16 December 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe to screen at Brazil's Mostra Film Festival". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 15 October 2020. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "'Eyimofe' (This Is My Desire) set to screen in 3 European countries". Pulse Nigeria. 20 October 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe to screen at Sharjah Film platform festival in UAE". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 25 October 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe Selected For Cairo International Film Festival". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 9 December 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe selected for 2020 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival". guardian.ng. 26 October 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe selected for 2020 Torino Film Festival". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 21 November 2020. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe selected for Hainan International Film Festival in China". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 26 November 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe Selected For International Film Festival Of India". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 15 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe wins Best Feature Narrative at BlackStar Film Festival". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 11 August 2021. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
- ^ Kenny, Glenn. "Eyimofe (This Is My Desire)". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Cole, Teju. "The Good People of "Eyimofe"". The New Yorker. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "The best African films of 2021 | African Arguments". 9 December 2021. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
- ^ "EYIMOFE (THIS IS MY DESIRE)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "Eyimofe wins Torino Film Festival's Achille Valdata award". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 1 December 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
