Synopsis: This movie tells the story of a young lady who was abandoned by the father of her children. She works tirelessly to fend for them by herself for over a decade but suddenly, he is back in their lives and she has to fight to hold onto her children’s affection.
I loved this movie!
The story itself is a very simple one — a woman suffering to raise her children alone is a storyline we have watched countless times — but it is told exquisitely. It pulls at your heartstrings and touches you with a vulnerable and triumphant representation of a mother’s enduring resilience in the face of hardship.
What did I like about this movie?
EVERYTHING!
Acting and casting were the biggest wins for this movie. It was a lean cast so I’ll mention all of them. The young Vicky played by Adeherself was impressive, she perfectly portrayed young Sista, young Folarin played by Chimezie Imo was really good too. Temitope Olowoniyan did a good job as Aunty Jay, I even liked her slight Hausa accent. Of course Bisola was good and Deyemi Okanlawon brought his A game.
Now let me talk about the phenomenal Kehinde Bankole.
I have always recognized Kehinde Bankole’s skills, whether she stars in a bad movie (Finding Hubby 2) or a good one like this one, her talent always shines through. She is a fantastic actress and her role as Sista is a major part of what makes the film so memorable; in this film, she was very grounded and her performance was so natural, it made the plot’s more predictable elements come off as fresh and unexpected. This is one of my favourite, if not my best performance from her. She is an amazing actress and I am thankful to Biodun Stephen for giving her a role worthy of her gifts.
I liked the movie setting and the beautiful cinematography. Costume and makeup were really good. I especially appreciated Sista’s ugly wig, that slippers in the last scene ehn, laughter wanted to kill me!!!
I liked the moving dialogues- verbal and non-verbal. I said non-verbal because there were times when there was no sound to convey what they were saying but i could “hear” what they were trying to say.
Plot progression was really good, it was crafted to engage us and be deeply absorbing. I liked how emotional this movie was.
Speaking of emotions, if you did not feel like crying at any point while watching this movie, take it from me that you are a cultist and we should be wary of you because!!!!!! This movie created an extraordinary sense of sympathy rarely matched by other movies.
Character development was really good, this movie gave us a lead character that we were deeply invested in. They used flashbacks several times but it was not annoying, it was used expertly to transport us back in time so we could feel what they felt and understand where they were coming from.
Some things that stood out for me:
- Thank God for good people like Aunty Jay. In a world were people are mean to workers, she chose kindness. Not only was she helping her by giving her work, she also gave her stuff. I could see evidence of Aunty Jay’s internal décor elements in Sista’s house.
- Is there really anything like Karma? This movie gives a different perspective. Old Nollywood would have us believe that Folarin would be punished some how for what he did but in real life is that really the case? He was living a good life, he had money, he had his children, he was not terminally ill. So it is important to choose yourself and make the right decision for you. Nobody is getting punished in real life.
- This movie showed that life is not always black and white. I really hated Folarin. I wanted him to suffer but it was only logical that Sista would forgive him and at some point, I couldn’t hate him again.
What did I not like about this movie? I honestly cannot think of anything. I’m sure there must be things to point out if I looked more closely but the beauty of a good film is that if it is good, you would be too engrossed to take note of tiny issues that might be lurking around.
Who should watch this film? Anyone can watch this, if you like a good story, then you’ll enjoy this movie. It’s a good movie to watch with your family, it is a good film to show teenagers so they know how present day decisions can have long term consequences.
This film will resonate with anyone who knows the acute angst of raising a child alone, anyone who is a mother, anyone who has a mother and has witnessed a mother’s sacrifice for her children.
Sista was written, directed and produced by Biodun Stephen and this is one of the few instances in Nollywood where one person wore multiple hats and it worked perfectly. I have always appreciated Biodun Stephen’s work, but I’ll say it again that her style of storytelling and her total vision remains awe-inspiring.
Read review of A Simple Lie by Biodun Stephen here
Overall, Sista was a great watch. Even though it follows a predictable narrative arc, Sista has enough depth so it remains an entertaining and emotionally rich drama. What we saw in Sista is moving and emotionally resonant storytelling, multilayered and powerful performances, great directing and excellent production values!
Rating: 9/10
