In the bustling world of the Nollywood film industry, movie franchises are starting to emerge as a growing phenomenon. Titles such as “Wedding Party,” “Chief Daddy,” “The Origin: Madam Koi Koi,” and “Anikulapo” have generated a lot of interest from the public, regardless of their success or failure. Some of these franchises started out promisingly, but eventually declined or took an unexpected direction.
When the third installment of “Wives on Strike” was announced, I was a little worried about the need for another sequel. In the first two installments, Oboli demonstrated her passion for women’s empowerment, giving a voice to the marginalized. The release of the third installment piqued my curiosity.
The first scene of the film, featuring Ebiere, played by veteran Hilda Dokubo, lost in dark thoughts while working at her meat stall in the women’s market, captivated me from the start. Throughout my viewing, I was eager to discover the meaning of these thoughts.
I was particularly impressed by Dokubo’s performance. Her character’s evolution from a loving and gentle mother grieving the loss of her son to a dangerous person fueled by her desire for justice literally had me spellbound. Her performance is subtle yet intriguing.
Mama Ngozi, played by Omoni Oboli, is a local president whose passion for fairness and justice puts her at a crossroads where a difficult decision must be made.
Emeka, played by Tomiwa Wategbe, threw me into a sea of uncertainty, but I could never have anticipated the outcome. The suspense was perfectly measured to keep us on the edge of our seats until the end.
The performances in general were entertaining, but Iya Bola’s antics could have been toned down. There is no denying that she inhabited her role every time she appeared on screen, but the theme of the film seemed too close to reality for me not to notice the excess of her performance.
On the technical side, the cinematography did its job brilliantly. Every element was delivered with accuracy. The colors were perfect, even for my anisometropic vision. The camera angles were simple enough to tell a story of this kind. I appreciated the fact that we were not overwhelmed by dramatic movements and pans that could have distracted us.
While some argue that there was no need for a sequel or franchise, I suggest you go to the theater to form your own opinion. With the movie voucher system that was launched with this movie, you can buy your tickets in advance, avoiding the long lines at the ticket office. You could even buy some for your friends, because trust me, I think more people should see this movie..
In the vibrant cinematic universe of Nollywood, franchises are growing in stature, offering a diversity of content and captivating performances that deserve to be discovered and enjoyed by an ever-wider audience.