Rita Dominic (Annabel) Jim Iyke (Barry), Donald Chidi (Mokeme). Director, Adim C. Williams; Story, Loius Isikaku; Screenplay, Adim C. Williams; Editor, Michael Anakpa: D.O.P, Emmanuel Olabode.
Anabel (Rita Dominic) is rescued by Barry (Jim Iyke) from two punks who nearly made away with her shopping bag and pocketbook but ends in Berry’s arm as a lover. Both Anabel and Barry, and right in front of Barry’s mother as a witness, vowed never to separate from each other. Not long after, Anabel’s parents report to her of a suitor who wants to marry her but refuses and tells them about Barry. Barry is sent for but is immediately dismissed by Anabel’s parents as a ruffian, disrespectful and a big mouthed indigent. To Anabel, Barry is her heart and soul and is ready to elope in the middle of the night with her bags all packed when she’s caught by her parents.
Annabel’s parents convince her to marry the young millionaire, Donald (Chid Mokeme). Soon trouble starts when Donald’s stepmother and her two children plot to destroy his happy marriage, and they’re thrown out of the estate. Alone, with his wife, life is grand but Barry still wants Anabel. He plans series of sabotages for Donald and helps crumble his business empire and even loses his mansion to Barry in an auction bid.
Stolen Heart is a sleeper. Dull. There’s not an element of confrontation or contention in the entire movie. Barry gives up Anabel to Donald like he cares less, and Donald did not put up a fight with Barry after knowing him to have been behind his destruction. Then too, it is not believable how Barry becomes reach overnight without exposition.
In story writing as in character build up, when a writer presents an incident, viewers expect results and possible fallout. We see Steve accepts large money from Barry and disappear from the story with no further presence. That bugs me a little. Is it realistic Steve gets away quietly, while we sit waiting for a feedback from the meeting? The last scene Barry meets with Donald and what takes place after by handing over Donald’s mansion back to him kills me and kills this film as a sleeper. Is there no law or agency like SEC to bring Barry to books? The presence of the law would have heated the story a little for our dear comfort, damn it.
Stolen Heart is the sole creative mind of Adim C. Williams. A writer and director, and therefore the burden of the entire production on him. I discovered and started following Mr. Williams and his creative effort since Joshua (2006). Joshua is not a serious literary undertaking but one of those lukewarm comedy projects, and after thirty or so movies to his credit, besides myriads of entertaining films among them, Stolen Heart fails to fascinate me.