October 1st, a Kunle Afolayan Film
While I do not claim to be an expert reviewer not to talk of a film reviewer I can't hold myself back from commenting on the film, October 1st which I just watched at the Cinema.
I am particularly inspired by the fact that Kunle though well educated and privileged by exposure opted to leave his white collar banking job to pursue his passion, film making against all odds. Even at that, he could have settled for home videos and the likes but set his eyes on the less traveled path of filmmaking.
While October 1st is principally fiction, the plot is an intricately woven representation of some actual events prior to the independence of our great country Nigeria and a pointer to its future.
The costume, location and the cast were perfect. While the film also appears to revolve around Danladi Waziri played by the enigmatic Sadiq Daba a great representation of the effectiveness of the police force, one can't but applaud Prince Aderopo played by Ademola Adedoyin. Another of the several exceptional characters that made the film so good is Miss Tawa the teacher played by Kehinde Bankole. Some of the other casts are Deola Sagoe as Funmilayo Ransome Kuti, Banji played by Femi Adebayo, my favorite cast Sergeant Sunday Afonja played by Kayode Aderupoko and Agbekoya the sexually abused student turned farmer played by Kunle Afolayan himself. Kudos to the scriptwriter Tunde Babalola also.
Without underestimating the professionalism and overwhelming performance of these characters, October 1st is about Nigeria. The film does great justice to the historical and cultural values of the country in spite of the underlining theme of rape and murder that ran through. Mr. Afolayan intricately wove facts and fiction to create an interesting movie that highlights the distrust that continues till these days between the three major ethnic groups of Yoruba, Hausa and Ibo in Nigeria.
October 1st is informative and relevant to present day Nigeria, even as it is set in a time in the past. It is a great movie by any standard and the best so far from Mr. Kunle Afolayan. Makes me sooooooooooooo proud of him. From one Igbomina (Kwara State, Nigeria) to another I say congratulations and well done my brother.
One must acknowledge and commend the sponsors without which the film which Mr. Kunle himself said cost about US2 million to make may not have been made. Leading the pack not unexpectedly I must say is Lagos State Government who is said to be the first to be associated with the project and was announced as one of the major sponsors of the film. Other major sponsors include Toyota Nigeria, Elizade Motors, Guinness Nigeria Plc. and Sovereign Trust Insurance.
I strongly recommend that you go and see the film with your family, friends and loved ones. You would be glad you did.
Olusoji Oyawoye aCOP, MIoD, fAOPN
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