“Water and Garri” is a 2023 Nigerian drama film directed by Meji Alabi and starring Tiwa Savage, Andrew Yaw-Bunting, Jemima Osunde, and Mike Afolarin. The movie follows the story of Aisha, a young woman who returns to her hometown after a long absence and must navigate the changes and challenges that have occurred in her community.
This analysis will provide a detailed examination of the movie review, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses, and exploring the themes, characters, and technical aspects of the film.
Plot Summary
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“Water & Garri” tells the tale of Ashia, a young woman on a journey to discover her life’s purpose. The film begins with a scene of a young man being pursued at night in a rundown neighborhood. After a frantic chase through the labyrinthine streets, he is shot. Ashia, the narrator, advises us not to feel sorry for him because he has faced his karma for murdering her brother.
Ashia was a successful fashion designer in Los Angeles until she received a distressing call from her cousin, Stephannie, informing her of her brother Niyi’s death.
Three months later, Ashia finds herself back in Eastside, the place where she and her brother Ayomide were raised by their grandmother, Yemi. Ashia’s return to Eastside is challenging, as it seems much has changed in the ten years since she left.
Back in Eastside, Ashia is flooded with memories from her past: the loss of her grandmother, growing up with her brother Mide, and her teenage romance with Kay.
She reconnects with Kay, her former lover, who is now the leader of a gang causing havoc in Eastside. Their love rekindles, and he takes her on a bike ride to show her the entire city.
However, their reunion is short-lived as Kay confronts a young man he views as a rival or threat. The night ends in disaster for the couple. As Ashia wrestles with her feelings for Kay, she wonders if her return to Eastside will bring any change to her life.
Themes
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“Water and Garri” explores several themes that are relevant to the Nigerian experience. Firstly, the movie examines the theme of return and reconnection, as Aisha returns to her hometown and must navigate the changes that have occurred in her absence.
Secondly, the film explores the theme of love and pain, as Aisha’s relationships and experiences are marked by both joy and suffering. Finally, the movie touches on the theme of community and violence, highlighting the tensions and conflicts that arise in the face of change.
Movie Strengths and Weaknesses
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The movie “Water and Garri” has several strengths that make it a notable film. Firstly, the cinematography is beautiful, capturing the vibrant colors and textures of the setting. The scenery is captivating, and the choice of locations is impeccable, making the film a visual treat.
Secondly, the original soundtrack is exceptional, showcasing pure talent throughout. The music perfectly enhances the movie, adding depth and emotion to each scene. Finally, Tiwa Savage demonstrates promise and performs commendably in her first major movie role, bringing a level of authenticity to her character.
Despite its strengths, “Water and Garri” has several weaknesses that detract from the overall viewing experience. Firstly, the storyline is confusing and disjointed, lacking depth and coherence. The narrative is hard to follow, and the pacing is slow, making the movie feel longer than its 1 hour 20 minutes runtime.
Secondly, the characters feel one-dimensional, and their motivations are unclear. The supporting and lead actors struggle to fully embody their roles due to the weak plot. Finally, the direction prioritizes aesthetics over a strong narrative, resulting in an unbalanced film that fails to engage the audience.
Character Breakdown
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“Water & Garri” stars Tiwa as Aisha, a successful fashion designer. She’s joined by actors like Mike Afolarin from “Far From Home,” Andrew Bunting from “Dynamite,” and Jemima Osunde from “New Money.”
The film, directed by Meji Alabi, features a rich soundtrack with contributions from Ayra Starr, Black Sherif, Olamide, and Young Jonn.
Tiwa’s talent is clear, and her voice has won hearts around the world. However, her acting debut in “Water & Garri” was less impressive. While her charm shines in music, it doesn’t translate well to acting. Her portrayal of Aisha lacked the required depth and sophistication.
Conversely, Andrew Bunting’s performance was a letdown. He struggled with his lines and lacked the charisma needed for his character, Kay, resulting in a lackluster performance.
Bunting’s performance was static, lacking the necessary energy and charisma for his role. As a result, his acting fell short, leaving viewers unsatisfied and unable to fully connect with his character’s journey.
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Movie Review
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The opening scene, which shows Kay fleeing from an unseen pursuer and eventually getting shot, initially intrigues the audience. However, within five minutes or less, the film fails to maintain the audience’s interest due to its lack of engaging elements.
While “Water & Garri” is a common phrase in Nigeria, the film’s concept, theme, and values seem disconnected.
There are no strict rules in filmmaking, but one cardinal sin is boredom; in this case, “Water & Garri,” despite its commonality, loses its appeal.
The film commits several unforgivable errors; for example, there’s no link between the first and last scenes, even though they depict the same event.
In the first scene, we understand that Kay was pursued and eventually shot after a game of hide-and-seek. But in the final scene, he’s shot unexpectedly just after dismounting his bike.
The frequent flashbacks, intended to clarify the narrative, instead disrupt the film’s flow, causing a disjointed sequence. Instead of providing answers, they leave viewers with more questions, confusing the storytelling experience.
The reason for Aisha’s return to Eastsicentre centered around her cousin Stephanie’s loss of her brother Niyi, lacks depth. Also, the narrative inconsistency about Kay’s role in Niyi’s death, along with Aisha’s initial belief that Kay deserved punishment, only to later reveal her unawareness of Kay’s involvement, creates confusion.
Moreover, the reasoning behind Kay’s death feels disconnected and inconsistent with the plot.
The director, Mr. Alabi, who has more experience directing music videos, can’t be excused for his lack of vision in “Water & Garri.” His efforts could be described as amateurish and lacking depth.
However, The technical aspects of “Water and Garri” are a mixed bag. On the one hand, the visuals are stunning, with beautiful cinematography and costumes. The film’s use of color and texture is particularly noteworthy, capturing the vibrant spirit of Nigerian culture. On the other hand, the editing is poor, resulting in a disjointed narrative and confusing flashbacks. The pacing is also slow, making the movie feel longer than its runtime.
Conclusion
“Water and Garri” is a visually stunning film with a talented cast and an exceptional soundtrack. However, the weak plot, poor character development, and unbalanced direction hinder the movie’s potential. Despite its strengths, the film falls short of expectations, leaving viewers disappointed and frustrated. With a stronger narrative and more emphasis on character development, “Water and Garri” could have been a standout film in the Nigerian drama genre.