Inspired by true events. the Trade tells the story of a notoriously cunning kidnapper known only by the name ‘Eric’ who ravaged the southern part of Nigeria for over a decade. Eventually, he undertakes a job that brings the law closer than ever before.
This was a really really good watch. The story and the way the story was told, simple but very effective.
I liked the film setting and the beautiful cinematography. I liked the blend of Igbo language and English. The movie felt very authentic, no unnecessary action tropes, plot progression was coherent, attention to details was good, the makeup and effects was good, I liked the costumes and set pieces, for example; those small GSM phones…very nice touch. Particular nuances made it apparent that a lot of research went into this movie.
Acting and casting worked perfectly.
Blossom Chukwujekwu gave a stellar performance. I have seen Blossom act different roles over the years infact, he is one of my favourite Nollywood actors because I like how he owns his characters but I must say I was not sure what to expect from him in this movie. Turns out I was worried for nothing because he brought his A game and more. Watching this richly nuanced performance from him makes a compelling case for him as one of the all-purpose leading men in Nollywood at the moment. The other actors in this movie did really well, Shawn Faqua, Waje, Ese Lami George,Stan Nze,Gideon Okeke…all of them!
This movie is mainly about Eric the kidnapper and I must say character development was really good. They were able to create a complex and compelling character called Eric. Seeing how he moved between his role as a Kidnapper and that of a loving father was interesting to watch.
I liked the themes addressed. This movie sheds light on the prevalence of kidnapping in Nigeria today. It shows how corruption and the broken machinery that is the police force constantly enables wickedness in this country. Most importantly, it shows us what we already know; that if the Nigerian police wants to find you, they actually can.
What I liked the most about this movie is that it actually gave us an investigation. A logical and plausible investigation. I was very proud.
Every scene had a purpose, I was happy when I saw that the print out from the ATM withdrawal scene was the first breakthrough in the investigation and it led them to the others.
On a normal day, you know when a movie does not satisfy the dictates of proper reasoning I’ll ask questions like why? How? When? Who? But the Trade answers all the important questions.
They showed us how they got information about their High Net-worth kidnap victims, we saw how they stalked their targets over a period of time, we saw how they hid their victims, how they ensured the victims could never identify them, how they laundered the money received. We saw all the important information.
We saw how Eric was able to cover his tracks for years, even his wife had no clue.
This movie was more focused on showing us a logical process of apprehending the culprits than showing us pointless gun fights and unrealistic action sequences. We did not hear “you are surrounded, drop your weapons” and I was so grateful.
The life and death of Officer Charles is very symbolic – filled with so much passion and desire for a change, so many young Nigerians get caught in the crossfire and become collateral damage. It was really sad that he died.
But I must admit that I did not like the fact that Ali Nuhu played the role of ACP Abubakar. Don’t get me wrong, this is one of the best performances I have seen from Ali Nuhu but I just didn’t think he was the best for the role. Also, since he was the main opposing force, i felt that his character build up was not robust enough. He was supposed to be a legend in the police force, a brilliant and strategic officer but ACP Abubakar did not look, sound or act bright. Someone with more personality and presence would have brought more pizzazz to the role than Ali Nuhu.
Like I said at the beginning, the trade is a simple movie, it is not fast paced and it cannot be described as a gripping mystery but it has its own thrill and appeal, it is a well written and nicely thought out movie. It shows that we have powerful real life stories that remain untold, stories that can become beautiful movies if properly researched and delivered.
Overall, it was a really good watch, compelling story and memorable performances were matched by great direction and excellent production values. Best movie I have seen this year.
Rating: 9/10
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Read review of Brotherhood here.
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