The Nigerian film industry is about to witness a revolution in film making as The Gods Are Still Not To Blame, a modern cinematic adaptation of the Greek Classic, Oedipus premieres in December.
Lavishly filmed, and replete with remarkable visual effects, the flick will certainly dominate social discourse amongst movie pundits, movie bluffs, filmmakers as well as the Nigerian entertainment industry in general. Shot in locations in Nigeria, Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire and also employing the use of five languages; English, French, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo it hopes to cement the Nigerian movie industry on the international map.
The thrilling, educative and topical film tells the story of a child who was born to King Adedoyin, while the naming ceremony is in progress, the leading clergy goes into a trance and proclaims that the baby will kill his father and marry his mother. While still trying to grapple with the situation, the traditional leader enters and proclaims the child as an unlucky messenger of the gods.
The child is taken to Cameroon inorder to avert the prophecy. Twenty eight years later, the child is also told the same prophecy which makes him leave Cameroon for Nigeria inorder to deter the prophecy but instead leads hi to fulfill the prophecy. Noteworthy is that the movie takes an existentialist stance at the role of a man in the fulfilment of his destiny and upholds the view that man, rather than the Supreme Force should be blamed for the consequences of his actions.
It is the opinion of the playwright that if the baby had been allowed to live and grow up with his parents instead of living with foster parents in a foreign land, probably the prophecy would not have been fulfilled.
An exceptional departure from your regular traditional-contemporary films, it spotlights Nigerian artistry and talent and places emphasis on top-class production. The fineness of this film is first seen in the crop of actors as it has an outstanding blend of English and Yoruba, established and fast-rising thespians.
Produced by Funke Fayoyin and Byron Ene, the film is the first cinematic offering of her Catalyst Communications Limited Productions. The stellar cast of Nollywood stars featured include Carol King, Bayo Alawiye, Seun Akindele, Iretiola Doyle, Gabriel Afolayan, Gloria Anozie-Young, Kareem Adepoju, Akin Lewis, Yemi Elebuibon, Dele Odule, Bukky Ajayi, Moji Olaiya, Nobert Young, Funsho Adeolu and introducing Omowunmi Dada.
Speaking on the project, the director, Funke Fayoyin disclosed that the film revolves around the parent-child relationship, the concept of destiny or fate as well as love, betrayal, sacrilege and other array of contemporary issues.
“The idea wasn’t only to introduce a new and significant dimension to the classic but to make it fascinating and appealing to viewers. Film production isn’t something that should be hurriedly done, it should be about breaking new grounds, setting standards and more importantly giving viewers value for their money.”
The Gods Are Still Not To Blame cuts across the Nigerian border, we have the best of the best; the costume is bespoke, the cinematography is top-of-the-range, the actors top-notch, the production as a whole is excellent. With this project, I hope to take the film industry into an all-new height as well as capture the world’s consciousness for accomplishing a feat.” She affirmed.
