Netflix presents, Genevieve Nnaji (Adaeze Obiagu), Nkem Owoh (Godswill Obiago), Pete Edochie (Chief Ernest Obiago), Kanayo O. Kanayo (Igwe Pascal), Ngozi Ezeoma (Chioma Obiagu), Kalu Ikeagwu (Samuel Akan), Sani Mu’Azu (Alhaji Danladi Maikano), Yakubu Mohammed (Hamza Maikano), Peter Okoye (Arinze). Executive Producers, Genevieve Nnaji, Chinny Onwugbenu; Director of Photography, Yinka Edward; Second Unit Director, Paul Hills. © 2018.
“A very little key will open a very heavy door.” Charles Dickens. This Charles Dickens quote is in line with the story under review. For all who have seen Felicima (2007), can attest that Genevieve Nnaji can put up a helluva fight, be it with the Nigerian corporate establishment, the derogative paparazzi gossip, and the Nigerian EFCC and her frozen bank accounts, and eventually come on top. As they say, a fruit never falls far from its tree, Lionheart and Felicima have the same lineage.
In Felicima, Genevieve fights the disparagement of her name and character and image in the business of Public Relations. She had EFCC audit on her back, office personnel playing politics on her back and Board members of the company threatening to pull out, but she did put on an unimaginable fight in the male-dominated corporate world of Lagos, even to the point of dismissing her lawyer and defending herself in court. Here in Lioneheart, she fights with the heart of a lion against a hostile takeover bid for her father’s transportation company, and when everybody thought they have lost the battle to save the company, she won.
The first time we see Adaezi Obiagu (Genevieve Nnaji) is when she stands face to face with the rugged car loaders who come with a brute force, protesting for pay and are about to stop the fleet of Lionheart from moving out of the station, an action obviously engineered by Samuel Akan (Kalu Ikeagwu). As Samuel Akan walks away from the scene looking at Adaezi with the spitefulness and look and smile of a member of the conspiratorial triumvirate, I sense something isn’t right with the multi-billion Naira transportation industry-Lionheart. And I sense, why Lionheart has been losing passengers to the competing transport companies.
Lionheart has a partner investor with IG Motors, headed by Igwe Pascal (Kanayo O. Kanayo). The name Pascal almost rhyme with ‘rascal.’ His motive here is to dupe Lionheart into insolvency, and to take over the company for cheap, hence, he is working in the background to distress it. In the recent External Auditors meeting, we found that Lionheart has an impending maturity of a nine hundred and fifty thousand Naira loan in thirty days and without which the company shall be liquidated.
The creditors will not extend the loan to Lionheart Transport Company, a design and intrigue engineered by IG Motors’ Pascal Igwe, and Lionheart’s own employed Fleet Engineer, Samuel. Like a hawk, Pascal Igwe is waiting in the wing watching and waiting for the thirty days to run out so he could come in with the pretense of a savior, to the detriment of the Lionheart, and buy out the company on his own terms.
Already, the prospect of default on the loan is causing panic in the maverick, Chief Ernest Obiago’s (Pete Edochie) household, and world. But Adaezi and her uncle, Godwill, go about town knocking at doors in the Enugu community. Some doors close in their faces, some gave false promises and hopes and some even want to use Adaezi’s predicament to take advantage of her womanhood. But with her uncle, Godwill, on her side, jaws are punched, newspapers slapped on Adaezi’s chest to avoid exposing her bare breast to strangers for the sake of loan from bankers, and both trudge on, relentless.
Godwill (God willing?) Obiagu fumbles in his back pocket and brings forth an old newspaper where he has read that a Northern Transport company is targeting the South-Eastern transportation market. He shows it to Adaezi and both broach over the idea of a merger with Kano Motors, and they have a standing walk-way meeting with the maverick. There’s a vigorous denial by Chief Obiago at first. With a little debate, however, he’s quick to see sense in the idea of a merger. After all that could be better than losing his company to a funny buy-out. Adaezi and Godwill decide to take the trip to Kano.
“When Charles Dickens once said, “A very little key will open a very heavy door,” can never be far from the truth. As God could have it, Adaezi and Godwill run into Alhaji Danladi Maikano (Sani MuAzu) and his son, Hamza Maikano (Yakubu Mohammed) at the airport, and they get acquainted. After that scene, I see the beautiful and picturesque sprawling city of Kano, my heart glow for I sense brighter days ahead for Lionheart. Adaezi has a chance to make her pitch to Maikano:
“We have two hundred buses and services fifty thousand passengers in the South-East each week, with 30 years of experience under our belt…Lionheart is willing to make your transition a smooth one.”
Alhaji Maikano, “Really? That sounds like a well-rehearsed pitch.”
Adaeizi, “It’s not a pitch, Sir.”
“Then convince me, why should my company merge with yours.”
Adaezi heaves and stands, desperate and tense. Turns away, with her best foot forward:
“Well sir, I grew up in a bus parking lot. My father started taking me to work way before I could crawl. I saw people come and go, each with their different agendas. Family is the core value upon which Lionheart is built. I understood this early…Your grandfather built Kano Motors sixty-five years ago and passed it on to your father, and now you wear the crown…You do understand succession and longevity.
Alhaji Maikano, “You’ve done quite a research.”
Adaezi sits, “Maikano Motors is the leading transportation company with an emphasis on the North. But Lionheart Transportation is the heart and soul of the South East. Our belief is that with your capital and our technical know-how, and if we come together, as one, we will be a force to reckon with in transportation business and not to mention importantly our values.”
Adaezi has by the pitch convinces Alhaji Danladi Maikano to merge with Lionheart, thus saving the company from liquidation.
There are incidents in Lionheart that make the movie a well-structured composition and need be addressed:
- The scene where Godwill joins the household and Lionheart establishment. His character acts as the adult and a sidekick to Adaezi in her fight against the hostile takeover of her father’s company. “Two heads are better than one,” Adaezi’s mother says.
- The scene where the two mavericks, Chief Ernest Obiago, and Alhaji Danladi Maikano meet teaches us a valuable lesson in this merger. Ernest Obiago offers his guest house to Alhaji Maikano; they break cola-nuts together; and the most important element that binds the two together is the use of the same native, Hausa language. A man who speaks your language is a brother. Chief Ernest Obiago, “enjoys yogurt and millet cake,” of the North. These are shared values that are important in a business arrangement. This common snack in the North that they love to eat, seal the deal, and you can see when they snap fingers.
- The dinner scene at maverick’s mansion is an important scene in the story. The scene lets everyone in the family put their worries away at least temporarily, and sit to a healthy dinner amidst waves of laughter, and family gossips. Whoever comes from a large family, doesn’t want such once in a while gathering at the dinner table?
- There’s not in recent months, a Nollywood production without romance. This is devoid of such and it’s all business. Of course, Hamza and Adaezi hands touch and with the look in his eyes, I sense wanting and loving desire for the future business partner. We’ve got to see that.
- The retirement party of Obiago and the special music invented in his name by his son is the crowning moment in the movie. “All’s Well That Ends Well.” William Shakespeare.
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