FilmOne Entertainment, Sneeze Films, CEM Media, and iFactory present Omotola Jalade Ekeinde (Dr. Njoku), Sola Sobowale (Mrs. Adeogun), Nobert Young (Dr. Fred), Tony Umez (Martins), Ben Touitoui (Kunle), Peter Okoye (As himself), Jerry Amilo (Kabiru Musa), Charles Awurum (Papa Sunny), Chioma Apotha (Chidinma), Fareboulous Oyibo Rebel (Mr. Omar Samir), Inidima Okojie (Angela), Sunday Akpobasa (Sunny) Imem Inwang (Funke). Screenplay, Moses Inwang, Melanie Oghene, Noble Emmanuel (Femi), Musa Jeffery David; Director of Photography, KC Obijulu; Producers, David Oruotor, Moses Inwang; Associate Producers, Mimi Bartels, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde. © 2021
It is a gloomy tale with a happy ending, unlike 93 Days (2016) movie, with the Ebola outbreak and its impending proliferation of the disease in Lagos that got the entire world clamoring for the cure. A Liberian diplomat brought the Ebola virus to Lagos en route to a conference. Lagos and the government were on edge as the disease rapidly spread among medical personnel. 93 Days catches the world’s attention, counting on the dense population of Lagos city and the propensity of Nigerians who travel in and out of the Country.
Lockdown’s Holo virus didn’t spread like Ebola or was not as infectious as Ebola. Ebola left behind no survivors once contacted or infected. 93 Days is not merciful with the characters because none survived the deluge Ebola brought to Lagos. Ebola disease can alarmingly spread among thousands of people within twenty-four hours. It is sensible to say that we live in a global community today. We interact through traveling from airports to airports, continent to continent, and from trains to buses and taxis. We shake hands and hug strangers, and kiss our kids from school. Thanks to God, the spread of infection in lockdown didn’t get that devastating.
Kunle is rushing to meet with business officers before he goes to the courthouse to sign his marriage papers with his beloved Funke (Imem Inwang). But Kunle and Sam (Jidekene Achufusi) run into a hit-and-run incident when a little girl was hit by a motor car and left a helpless girl on the road to die. Kunle helps the poor girl into his jeep to the hospital even as his friend Sam kicks against it. Kunle and Sam had to wait in the same reception room at the hospital.
At the joy of the million nairas winning, Sunny had his wrist slashed by a ceiling fan when his dad, Papa Sunny, lifted him in the air with joy. He rushed into the neighborhood hospital for quick treatment to claim his winning. He had to wait in the reception room. Angela (Inidima Okojie) forgets she had to have medical clearance for her interview and runs back to the nearest hospital in Lekki. She had to wait in the reception room for the nurse to check the database for her medical record. A delivery man, Peter Okoye, asks a nurse for Dr. Njoko. He had to wait in the reception room for Dr. Njoku to sign her package. About five unintended visitors are anxious to get attention so they can go by their business.
The Lockdown script starts with high tension and stays at that level until the end. A Middle Easterner, Omar Samir (Fareboulous Oyibo Rebel), on a business trip, just like Dr. Sawyer (Keppy Ekpenyong-Bassey), in 93 Days (2016). On his way to a conference, a Liberian diplomat had to do an emergency landing in Lagos. Mr. Omar Samir arrives in Lagos to attend a business meeting; he catches a sniffle on his way. His face is red with watery eyes, continuous sneezing, and then he loses breath. Omar developed a severe fever and asked the personal driver to the hotel to drive him to the nearest medical facility. Calvary Baptist hospital in Lekki finds out he has the strange Holo virus. A few minutes later, the hospital management announced a lockdown of the facility. No one goes out, and no one comes in. The lockdown begins.
There is renewed chaos in the room when Dr. Njoku (Omotola Jalade Ekeinde) shall announce the virus and its danger. The government fears its spreading, hence the lockdown. Amidst cries of, “let me out of here before I miss my wedding,” Kunle yells. Angela worries about missing her once-in-a-lifetime interview. Yet Sunny is afraid his winning lottery will expire if he doesn’t show up to sign for it. This morning, Peter left his sick wife to make a quick delivery and got his paycheck to buy medicine. They are all stranded and furious.
Outside the Calvery Baptist hospital in Lekki, concerned parents, friends, and family members demand the release of their loved ones from the lockdown. Police captain, Kabiru Musa (Jerry Amilo), is in command of the government troops. He had acted in Mafians (2006), a small and poorly produced film–– Nollywood in her earlier years. Here in lockdown, he is a little portly now. He couldn’t let Mrs. Adeogun (Sola Sobowale) into the hospital compound even though she presented a potful of food with lots of chickens to bribe the officers.
A unique element I take away is a plot that resembles Love In The Time of Cholera (2007). The one fantastic thing about the outbreak of Covid in the United States is the high pregnancy rate out of boredom and seclusion with their male partners. Most people put on extra weights, staying home and doing nothing. And feeling bored, most indulged in heavy drinking. In Lockdown, Angela and Kunle pore their hearts to each other. Especially since they couldn’t sleep in their lockdown environment, thinking about the outside world. She, about her ailing mother, and he, thinking about Funke and her naggings. They start getting closer and closer to each other, talk late into the night and console each other. Kunle sees Angela’s humanness and feels for her humble background. They fall in love.
Lockdown ends on a good note. Dr. Njoku, once scared shit that she had contracted the virus, is found to be negative, unlike Dr. Adadevo (Bimbo Akintola), who perished at the hands of Ebola in 93 Days. Angela’s job is waiting for her, and Sunny gets the check for his lottery winning. On the outside world, Funke feels betrayed and gives up on Kunle. Kunle proposes marriage to his newfound love in the lockdown, Angela. As they say, all is well that ends well.
Oh, it wasn’t easy at all. Writers Moses Inwang, Melanie Oghene, and Noble Emmanuel had their ducks in a row. They created an environment for all characters to be in one place, unwittingly, of course, and jointly face the dilemma and pain of the situation the script presented them. Funke cuts her phone off Kunle. And Kunle and his business partner Sam physically slugged one another rolling on the hospital lobby floor. Just as it was fearful for them, it was funny how they could find their way out of the dilemma. The hand, however, finds a way of freeing each one without loss. Lockdown is a well-rounded story. I love it.