Farmers Bride is a tragic drama from Netflix set in Ibadan the South- western part of Nigeria in 1980s. The film is written by Jack’ nneth Opukeme and co- directed by Adebayo Tijani. The October 17th release is produced in 2024 by Kene Okwuosa, Craig Shurn and Ladun Awonokun.
The cast are popular actors and actresses in Nollywood which include Egbubemi Ejeye, Femi Branch, Tobi Bakare, Mercy Aigbe, Bolanle Ninolowo.
Married against her will to an older rich farmer, Fumi ( Egbubemi Ejeye) does not hide her dissatisfaction to the forced marriage to the farmer orchestrated by her parents in an exchange of a parcel of land.
Inspite, his efforts to profess and convince his young wife of his affection towards her, the farmer Odun, ( Femi Branch), Fumi finds love in her husband’s protege and nephew, Femi who drops out from the university only to return to his late father’s woodcarving trade in the village.
His return ignites a deadly romance between him and Fumi his uncle’s wife.
With Fumi snicking out often to Femi’s workshop to derive canal pleasure with Femi not minding the inevitable consequences.
Fumi’s conception comes with a plan to hide the incestuous relationship from the villagers which attracts death penalty to the culprit if the gods get to know.
Driven by anxiety, Fumi poisons Odun to death to conceal the taboo and ligalise her relationship with Femi.
In sorrow and agony, Morenike, (Mercy Aigbe) Femi’s mother who is also Odun’s sister envokes her late brother’s spirit to avenge his death.
Accusing Fumi of the death of Odun, Morenike vows that Femi will not marry Fumi after the elders advised him to succeed and inherit his late uncle’s estate which means all including Fumi.
The visit of Femi’s est- while girlfriend, Banke from the town changes the tempo of the plot igniting the distant love affair that existed between them before Banke leaves for modelling in the town.
Femi keeps his romance with Banke intimate even before his wife, Fumi not minding her feelings.
In the bid to confront Femi over his unfaithfulness to her in his workshop, Banke hears Femi and Fumi arguing their role in Odun’ s death which prompts Banke to storm into the workshop from her hiding place to confront them for the atrocity perpetuated but only to be hit with a wooden material from behind by Fumi which kills her.
Fumi narrates to her mother who came visiting her ordeal in the her home. The mother takes her to a witch-doctor who gives her a charm to cast a spell on Femi to make him love her the more and for him to stop the act of infidelity.
Fumi put the charm in Femi’s food as she is told by the witch-doctor, but the reverse becomes the case. The food chokes Femi and realizing he is poisoned, he strangulates Fumi. Both dies instantly.
The film tells the plight of the girl child in Africa. She is not heard, seen, or included in the scheme of things. She is considered as a commodity to be sold to the highest bidders. Fumi and her mother are victims of early marriage. This is the scenario they find themselves. They are at the mercy of tradition.
The movie also tells of oppression in our society. The rich dominate and oppress the less privileged to their injury. For a piece of land Duro buys Fumi outrightly against her will all because he is rich. Her destiny is truncated against by the power and influence of money.
Betrayal is another theme that runs through the movie. Fumi cheats on Duro while Femi goes ahead to cheat on her with Banke.
Duro’s love for Fumi is not hidden all through his life. Duro cheriches Fumi, protects her and does everything within his reach to please his bride.
Pure love is expressed by Duro.
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Karma is one of the significance of the movie. Fumi betrays and kills her husband while Femi does the same to Fumi. This reinforces the adage “What goes around comes around”. What one plants he reaps.
The film has a message of the dangers of youthful exuberance in our society. Youths should use their skills and expertise for positivity and not for vices. Fumi, Femi, and Banke exhibit a high degree of this trait and pay the price dearly for abusing it. The film is a clarion call to youths to pursue virtue with valour and discipline.
Jack’enneth Opukeme and Adebayo Tijani stylishly weave the use of irony into the plot to pass the message. Fumi kills her husband only for Femi to become unfaithful to her. The el- dorado she dreams of enjoying with Femi evaporates and disappears before her. Her energy, with, confidence meet weakness, disappointment and defeat.
Again, Morenike envokes Duro’s spirit to avenge his death not knowing that her son is a culprit.
This complicates the matter in the waty irony of fate played out in the movie.
In delivery, the cast show professionalism Fumi and Femi are juxtaposed placing strength,boldness, dynamism,and strong will against weakness, timidity, and naivity embellishing the plot with an act of conflict.
The contrast between Banke and Fumi is vivid.
Banke is seen, and heard, by the world while Fumi is limited by tradition. She represents the old fashioned while Banke stands for sophistication highlighting rivalry between the two women central in the plot. This artistic creation tells of the pedigree of Jack’ enneth Opueme having what it takes as a extraordinary storyteller.
However, the production has low point in the superficial scenes depicting the death of Duro and Banke. Their deaths do not appear real to convince the audience. A strike, Banke falls immediately and dies while Duro clutches his stomach, let out a short cry, slumps and dies. The scenes are unprofessional for a 21st century production.
In all out of a scale of 10 “Farmers Bride” scores 7. The crew and cast deliver superlatively bringing Nollywood into global movie spotlight.
No doubt, FilmOne Production
adds a new feather to its cap.
Farmers Bride worth the value if every kobo spent in seeing it.
