The movie
Eyimofe
Nigerian-born twin brothers Ari and Chuko Esiri paint a colourful portrait of the metropolis of Lagos, where some want to leave their chaotic hometown and others choose to stay.
Length: 116 min
Country: Nigiria
Language spoken: English
Language subtitles: Dutch
Cast: Emmanuel Adeji, Mary Agholor, Kemi Lala Akindoju
Jude Akuwudike, Temi Ami-Williams, Tomiwa Edun, Jacob Alexander, Cynthia Ebijie
Director: Arie Esiri, Arie Chuko Esiri
Release date: 2020
Description
Twin brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri have done something quietly remarkable here: through the stories of Mofe (Jude Akuwudike), an electrician and handyman, and Rosa (Temi Ami-Williams), a hairdresser and bartender, they’ve painted a textured, heartfelt, and decidedly non-melodramatic portrait of what it’s like to live on the colourful streets of Nigeria’s most populous city, Lagos.
Though they never really cross paths, Mofe and Rosa share both a neighbourhood and a desire to immigrate to Europe. They jump through the numerous hoops involved to achieve their goals, but it is their daily lives and the steady accumulation of quotidian detail—constant money problems, family tragedy and strife, the occasional helping hand of another—that constitute the film’s heart and soul. Splendidly shot on 35mm by Arseni Khachaturan, This Is My Desire (the English title) also cleverly balances humanistic naturalism with grace notes of humour and conviviality… ‘This Is My Desire is a low-key charmer, but it really delivers as a clear-eyed portrait of a vibrant city, informed by the unfakeable love… of two talented native sons.’—Jessica Kiang, Variety
Though they never really cross paths, Mofe and Rosa share both a neighbourhood and a desire to immigrate to Europe. They jump through the numerous hoops involved to achieve their goals, but it is their daily lives and the steady accumulation of quotidian detail—constant money problems, family tragedy and strife, the occasional helping hand of another—that constitute the film’s heart and soul. Splendidly shot on 35mm by Arseni Khachaturan, This Is My Desire (the English title) also cleverly balances humanistic naturalism with grace notes of humour and conviviality… ‘This Is My Desire is a low-key charmer, but it really delivers as a clear-eyed portrait of a vibrant city, informed by the unfakeable love… of two talented native sons.’—Jessica Kiang, Variety
Reviews
"Knap debuut ‘Eyimofe’: hosselen en ritselen in een Nigeriaans vagevuur.”
