Fifty

14 May 2020: Last year 2019, I started watching movies and television shows made in Africa, mainly Nigeria and Kenya. I would like to see the "Fifty" soap opera run for many years like American soap opera dramas. I like every episode. Since I was born and lived in USA my entire life watching American movies and t.v show, I am Not use to seeing an All African (black) cast in soap opera dramas, but it is a real nice change of pace and the African actors/actresses are just as talented as their counterparts in North America. I really enjoyed watching pretty and talented African actresses Dakore Agbuson, Adesua Etomi and the so beautiful and talented, Pearl Thusi and the male actors are good too, Chris Attoh and other. Go Nollywood go.

A week in the life of four Nigerian women. This isn't the outback --- this is the urban city. It's a soap opera, right out of modern day Africa. Some beautiful scenes of Lagos, the bridges, the city. High profile women face the issues of fast-paced, professionals living in the city. Currently, a very sparse cast shown on IMDb.... just the top billed women in the cast, and no men at all, in spite of the fact there are many men in the film. Fifty seems to be a reference to the fiftieth-birthday of the reality TV star, Tola; She is out of control, and will take advice from NO-one, including her brother and producer. Gotta love the blue lipstick on the producer! Then there's the doctor who thinks she needs an "augmentation". Kate the event- planner, who may or may not have a life-threatening disease. All that drama, and life "stuff" going on. They occasionally slip in and out of native tongue, but keep coming back to English. This is an African "SoapDish", but its pretty fast moving and fun. Everyone gets caught doing something or someone they are not supposed to, with interesting results, and great interaction with the family, friends, and co-workers. Directed by Biyi Bandele, who has only written and directed a few films, but did a fine job with this one. Oddly, IMDb doesn't list a writer or production company. Great stuff. And its so good to see a side of Nigeria besides the starving children and dry desert shown on American television ads all day long. Fun to watch. Hope we get more like this from African film makers.

I've never before seen a Nollywood film, so I was intrigued as to what director Biyi Bandele's 'Fifty' would be like. As it turns out, it was pretty much an African version of 'Dynasty'! The film is about four affluent Lagos women who are 'of a certain age'. There's Elizabeth, a celebrity obstetrician whose taste in young men has led her daughter to disown her; Kate, a party planner becoming increasingly influenced by religion; Maria, a high-flying construction executive who discovers she is pregnant; and Tola, a reality television star with a dark family secret. Their story lines join, separate and join again before resolving themselves in best TV movie fashion. It's not challenging at all, but certainly diverting and entertaining. Although all four lead actresses get their turns to emote, only Nse Ikpe-Etim, as Kate, has a consistently challenging role as the reason for her character's turn to religion is revealed. Bandele makes full use of Lagos' skyline with sweeping establishing shots over the city, although by the end of the film you may feel you've seen quite enough of the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, as attractive a piece of engineering as it is.