Kunle Afolayan’s OCTOBER 1: Review
A predictable direction: With a few award winning movies to his credit and a burgeoning legendary status, it is only normal that Afolayan would want to outdo himself… A “big budget” movie with a political backdrop that plays on the metaphor of unity to attract a diverse audience- a country with over 250 ethnic groups- yes, it’s a film that speaks in tongues, a la Phone Swap- a move that could easily see him sit on the throne as the first king of the (dis)united states of Nollywood. He can be trusted to be the star of his movie, not because he always finds (or forces) a role for himself in his films, but because he is usually a bigger name than his actors- a fact, but not necessarily a bad thing- I mean, where was Sadiq Daba before now? 

Inside critics who had seen the movie earlier had placed it over the glamorously superficial ‘Half of a Yellow Sun’ released a few months ago, consequently spiking interest in this two million dollar “David” that had supposedly struck down Biyi Bandele’s 10 million dollar (and if you are Nigerian, 1.59 BILLION NAIRA) Goliath. But then, both films seem to have a lot in common and with such budgets- bearing in mind that Nigeria has a high level of poverty- their efforts to raise Nigeria’s film reputation must be applauded, for Kunle Afolayan especially, who seemed to have had a very difficult time amassing resources “all alone” and had every aspect of the film (save the colour grading) done strictly by Nigerians in Nigeria- yeah, patriotic shit. So, our reaction to the movie would be tinted with compassion… If we were a bunch of ass holes, but that’s the cool part, we arent.

Afolayan has never been a visionary director- he is yet to develop visual nuances that would stand him out, but of course that shouldn’t be surprising as he has – for the entire length of his movie making career- been jumping through genres and ‘experimenting.’ Yes, we like our artists to not be too versatile; that’s why Quentin Tarantino does not do romance movies, James Cameron is always about technology, Teco Benson is quite good with action films and Tunde Kelani is unbeatable at showcasing Yoruba culture… and they are all great directors. They are great because their stories, techniques and nuances are deeply connected to their personalities; personal preferences and character traits. An artist’s greatest works are always their most personal, it just may not always be obvious. Afolayan is still too tensed with budgetary issues, camera techniques and commercial returns to find the serenity needed to shoot from within. What results is a work with much brain but no soul- good but not great.

October 1 is not Afolayan’s  first thriller (The Figurine was), if at all we can call it that, so it was expected that by now he would have perfected his approach to film noir. The story is built on a series of virgin girl killings and a police inspector who must find the killer before Nigeria gains independence on the 1st of October 1960. The major problem is that the writer pens a weak story with too many holes and too lazy to rewrite, makes it worse by finding excuses for all his shortcomings; alibis, suspects, red herrings and twists. As a matter of fact there is no twist, everyone guessed right. Inspector Waziri is not an interesting character- rarely seen outside his uniform, he is nothing but an inspector and is easily outshone by his side kick Kayode Aderupoko (Inspector Afonja). Somewhere along the story, the writer tries to impress another layer on Waziri’s character by bringing up his ‘wife and child’ story and ofcourse, it fails. 

The whole charade of Nigeria’s independence even feels super imposed on the story. We do not understand or feel the circumstances leading to or people’s reaction towards it. Ofcourse the learned ones in Akote talk about it but the issue is approached with the depth of a pseudo-intellectual, much is spoken but nothing profound is really said. 

So what if the killer doesn’t get apprehended before the 1st of October? Funmi Ransome Kuti makes an appearance- and yes, one appearance with no relation to the story at all. The cameo parts of veteran actors like Femi Adebayo and Kanayo O Kanayo are like Brad Pitt’s “Deus ex machina” appearance in 12 Years a Slave, very brief, except that their presence is not felt either because of their under par acting and/or bad story writing. The dialogue through out the movie is either overly rehearsed or dispassionately delivered. Only a few characters hold their own and they are usually not the major actors. It picks up only at the end when Waziri magically becomes a proud black man in an argument that aspires to what should have been experienced long before that moment.

Ofcourse, the film is littered (however unevenly) with funny moments but it is by no means a great movie. The issue of paedophilia is touched on in the film and obviously aspires towards controversy, but it is approached with such one dimensional flippancy that it gives off the aura of a PR stunt to get people talking and increase ticket sales. 

The movie is simply an embodiment of marketing gimmicks- it may make its money back but like Phone Swap and his other films, it will not revolutionise film making in Nigeria. Kunle Afolayan needs to be a deep thinking artist with a strong vision that will flow through every aspect of his work. 

He isn’t there yet. 

Rating: Lacking in depth. 5/10


From: colawole.

I was on your blog and i must confess that you write so well..... i will like to keep in touch as we might have things to do together in the future.

You said it all.

Constructive criticism is good...as good as it is, I will only ask the writer to tell us one film he/she has directed, produced or acted before....if non, then he/she should keep his/her mouth shut!


Thanks everyone that gave me likes before seeing this movie...I saw the movie on the 4th of Oct....Wow....thumps up for me for defending this master piece from Kunle Afolayan..It is worth seeing and re-seeing rating,...am giving 9/10

adioolayi: Constructive criticism is good...as good as it is, I will only ask the writer to tell us one film he/she has directed, produced or acted before....if non, then he/she should keep his/her mouth shut!

You dey mind the mofo , the fact that the op had to bring Half of a yellow sun as basis for comparism gave him away. This is just another annoyed Igbo boy

Nice writing mastery, mogroide.,. Rejected an offer to go watch the movie at the cinemas from a colleague because its a "Nigerian" movie, but you just made me change my mind. Thumbs up.

davide470: Nice writing mastery, mogroide.,. Rejected an offer to go watch the movie at the cinemas from a colleague because its a "Nigerian" movie, but you just made me change my mind. Thumbs up.

nd we r supposed to be good citizens shake mi head for u

teeo: Op are you Igbo?

The OP might be igbo, but the dude who wrote the review isn't. Did you even bother to check the source?

davide470: Nice writing mastery, mogroide.,. Rejected an offer to go watch the movie at the cinemas from a colleague because its a "Nigerian" movie, but you just made me change my mind. Thumbs up.

take me along

NoContract: You said it all.

He said it all?? Have you seen the Movie?? The Writer of this article is so bitter and his choice of words reeks of hatred.

BrB

adioolayi: Constructive criticism is good...as good as it is, I will only ask the writer to tell us one film he/she has directed, produced or acted before....if non, then he/she should keep his/her mouth shut!

My Brother, I swear to God.. When you finally watch this Movie, and you remember this Article.. I bet you would like to locate this Writer and stone the fvcktard to death. And all he could rate him is 5/10?? Really??

teeo:

You dey mind the idiot, the fact that the op had to bring Half of a yellow sun as basis for comparism gave him away. This is just another annoyed Igbo boy

The Lady that was next to me is Igbo.. She heard me saying "Half of a Yellow is crappy compared to this" She said; "How did you know what I was thinking?"

Maybe he wasn't given Popcorn or he finished it before the Movie started. The Writer is so angry!!

davide470: Nice writing mastery, mogroide.,. Rejected an offer to go watch the movie at the cinemas from a colleague because its a "Nigerian" movie, but you just made me change my mind. Thumbs up.

**in aderupoko voice**
Please goan wash it o!

I have not seen this movie, but I must confess that this is one Nigerian movie that I look forward to seeing. Why? Cos I have seen the making and it is sooo good! I hope it doesn't disappoint me like Half of a yellow sun did.

Yes, Half of a yellow sun was an epic fail to me. The retinue of international cast that could not pronounce their character names properly - including my brother from Enugu state, Chiwetelu Ejiofor - was the starting point of my disconnect with the movie. Their facial expresions and portrayal of characters were unAfrican to say the least. Thandie Newton and Noni whatever were more American than African. To think Thandie is British and act like American churns at the stomach!

Why rush to parade international stars when we could have sourced for stars locally? Imagine a Denzel Washington or Samuel L Jackson playing Okonkwo in Achebe's Things fall apart. I had to draw this inference cos Adichie writes like Achebe by using Igbo language to think and translating it in english, on paper. You cannot divorce the rich Igbo culture from their writing.

The movie was not in conformity with the novel. I understand this happen sometimes when good books are made into movies, but I tend to ask if Adichie saw the movie before it's release? I ask this cos the character Okeoma, in my opinion, was created as a tribute to the fallen poet Chris Okigbo, who died in the war. Adichie gave him his dues by making him die at the war front like he did, but the movie had to make him die at Odenigbo and Olanna's wedding, thereby demeaning his sacrifice and making a coward out of him. The director need not show the scene of him dying at the war front. Someone could just have brought the news to Odenigbo and Olanna, like Dr Nwala did in the novel.


To me; Onyeka Onwenu(Odenigbo's mum) and the actor who played Harrison(Richard's houseboy) were the best. I reserve my comment till I have seen October 1. I do not want to predict the temper of the chick still in the hatch.

I ate Nejerian mofie flenty flenty

Hmmm...nigerian movie. Sorry...I'll pass

I don't like Nigeria movies

UjSizzle:
The OP might be igbo, but the dude who wrote the review isn't. Did you even bother to check the source?

There's no point, it reeked of greiviance. Whatever beef he has with Afolayan is not my business but I an sure the op is just another tribalist. Lots of people who saw the movie put it to be better than half of a yellow sun.

Read the review properly, he only targeted personality of the actors, no basis for comparism and content analysis. He should go and sleep jare. No be by big grammar

I hope he recoups his investment. His movies reeks of mediocrity bt den dats Nollywood for u.

Shoddy movie review, seems OP is still learning d ropes.

Mainfraim is good, Kunle afolayan is good, the actors and actresses in the film are good and we are in good country... I guess OCTOBER 1 is the best for the season

teeo: Op are you Igbo?

so u intend tribalizing d discourse to deflect attention from d crass movie?? Shame on u!

4 me kunle is d best tin dat eva happened to nollyhood 4 now (I don't knw abt yoruba or igbo directors).

The writer talked abt Kunle not having a style of his own, I don't totally agree, I watched his film d "figurine" abi na "araromire" I go call am. Comparing dat wit "october 1", it is clear dat he is consistent on building loyalty to his nation, "the figurine" is one of d best film I av watched n d rhetoric it left in my mind at d end still makes me ponder on how a nigerian film was able to achieve dat feat in my mind.

In as much as I don't agree wit d writer on sum parlance, I still tink d write up was superb, kunle needs both critics and appraisals to grow n transform nollyhood.

4 me d sellin point of kunle is his ability to make us feel dat nigeria is our country n we shud av a deep sense of loyalty to d nation, he even demonstrate it by using indigenious crew. (N its in line wit d "transformation agenda of GEJ) d transformation have to cum from witin our soul n current generation have to feel wat d balewas, azikiwes, maucauleys felt wen de were in pusuance of nigeria independence.

Tank u.

Yeah,its very very easy to criticize . . Just do me a favour of telling me how many films,you've directed.

Op u wan enter Movie industry?na so so movie nd Nollywood I d see 4 ur post

i no even read thread before i booked space,


space for sell for just one cup of garri

ElekeNtioba:

so u intend tribalizing d discourse to deflect attention from d crass movie?? Shame on u!

If you haven't seen the movie then shut up

teeo:

You dey mind the idiot, the fact that the op had to bring Half of a yellow sun as basis for comparism gave him away. This is just another annoyed Igbo boy

u must be very re_tarded. U see 'half of a yellow sun' mentioned in d write-up and suddenly its an igbo vs yoruba tin Did you even bother to know the reviewer's angle when he made the comparison.