Citation

Nollywood has come a long way from the mostly ‘Juju’ themed movies of the past. Don't get me wrong some of them are still being made as the target audience will always be there but like I have stressed on this medium, I do not like the narrative it gives about Nigeria to the world.

Kunle Afolayan has always tried to steer the narrative from that path even in his early days. I admit not totally as movies like Figurine would disagree, but the word was tried and now he has adopted a path of making his movies about societal vices.

In Citation, the popular sex for grades BBC documentary which highlighted the decadence in our higher institutions of learning was the social vice which was the bedrock of the latest offering from Kunle Afolayan’s stable.

Temi Otedola was excellent in her portrayal of the lead role. The student who had sex demanded from her by her lecturer and which led to a panel hearing as it was her word against his. She interpreted the role so well it was so believable. From the rich intelligent young lady who was well-travelled in her quest for education to the accents in her speaking of three different languages. I have to admit that I don't speak French and as such cannot say if she got the accent well, but she definitely got the accent of an "Ajebo" kid trying to speak Yoruba.

Temi Otedola really stood out as the protagonist in the movie, and it would be fair to say she delivered on all fronts. I did have my misgivings at first. My first impression on seeing her in the movie was that she just wanted to fulfil some childhood fantasy about acting and would not do justice to the role. And that she used her father’s influence to get the role.

From its striking visuals to its powerful message, "Citation" is a film that demands to be seen. It is a timely reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Whether you are a fan of Nollywood cinema or simply looking for a powerful and thought-provoking film, "Citation" is not to be missed.