MOVIE REVIEW: Warning, Bimbo Ademoye’s ‘Broken Hallelujah’ might make you cry

Category: Entertainment

Director: Great Val Edochie

Run time: 2:25 mins

Cast: Bimbo Ademoye, Daniel Etim Effiong, Bimbo Akintola, Eso Dike, Barbara Soky, Great Val Edochie, Munachi Ike, Saratu Bello.

Streaming platform: YouTube

Release date: 18 April

In Nigeria, a country with strong socio-cultural norms, the expectation for immediate childbearing after marriage is a prevalent societal norm. ‘Broken Hallelujah’ offers a unique perspective, shedding light on the pressure and stigma faced by couples who do not conform to this expectation.

This has given rise to a concept known as womb watchers, where friends, relatives and generally onlookers start a countdown to when a new bride begins to show signs of conception.

In this part of the world, there is no reason why a couple should get married and not reproduce immediately.

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It also doesn’t help that the burden, or blame, is usually placed on the wife.

Plot

Diya (Bimbo Ademoye) is a lonely girl raised by her grandmother. Just back from national service, she falls into the loving arms of her childhood crush, Chukwudi ‘Didi’ (Daniel Etim Effiong).

Didi’s shop catches fire moments after having a falling out with local tax collectors led by Adodo.

Following the fire incident, Didi leaves for Lagos to start all over. The first few months after his departure, he was trying for the forlorn Diya, but true to his promise, he returned to marry his heartthrob and take her to Lagos.

Little do they know that the trajectory of their life together will threaten to upend the blossoming love story.

Review

“The same way broken crayons do colour, a broken hallelujah still carries praise.” Lines from the closing scenes of the movie.

One year into their marriage, the couple’s joy is overshadowed by the stark reality of infertility. The emotional rollercoaster they embark on, from hope to disappointment, is a central theme of the film.

This initiates a series of events that threaten to disrupt their marriage, leading to a rollercoaster of emotional struggles.

What started as intense faith transitioned into a deep emotional and spiritual struggle, which in turn morphed into resentment.

As a faith-based movie, ‘Broken Hallelujah’ explores the science of conception and its intricacies.

In the film, we learn about Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome, one of the downsides of IVF, or in vitro fertilisation.

For context, IVF is often painted as a one-size-fits-all solution to infertility and difficulties with conception.

It also teaches us that high Human chorionic gonadotropin levels trigger pregnancy, mimicking hormones.

‘Broken Hallelujah’ is a story of infertility and a subtle exploration of faith and tolerance. The film’s portrayal of Diya, a devout Christian, comforted by a Muslim woman who shares a similar experience, is a powerful message of unity in diversity.

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However, that lesson was almost marred by the suggestion of kayanmata, a popular aphrodisiac, for pregnancy.

Bimbo Ademoye’s versatility as an actress is unquestionable. Despite being a real-life Muslim, her portrayal of a ‘prayerful’ Christian is a testament to her acting prowess.

On the flip side, despite being an interesting movie, the overdramatisation of several scenes almost makes viewers lose interest.

For a Christian film, the scenes of the older woman played by Barbara Soky, while understandable, started to feel like the stuff of folk tales.

In summary, ‘Broken Hallelujah’ tackles a significant topic and dissects it in a way that can touch even the most stoic of hearts, making it a film of great importance.

Verdict

‘Broken Hallelujah’ is rated 8/10