It takes a truly great movie or any digital production to be able to hold down your attention for almost two hours in an age of multi-level distractions and of viral attention deficit.
‘Enoch’, the biopic (dramatized biography) of eminent pastor, Enoch Adejare Adeboye, released on March 2 to coincide with the clergy’s 81st birthday, holds such endearing attributes. Local, indeed rustic colors depicting his very humble beginning in Ifewara village in Osun State, South Western Nigeria about eight decades ago, is one of the sweet sides to it.
Perfect role-plays, memorable dialogs, astute portrayal of events around the trajectory of the interesting life of one of Nigeria’s most influential pastors (one time Newsweek Magazine’s one of the 50 powerful people in the world amongst others), deploying drones, detailed directing and all, is quite impressive.
One key take-away from the movie for me is the prayer of Adeboye’s mother on the day he sets out for school on a rickety pickup amidst the family’s desperate poverty (he had had to go on a hunger strike to press home his demand to be enrolled in school, compelling his dad, with absolutely no finance, to sell his prize ram): “If you call one person, thousands will gather.’ That prayer of a weeping mother has aptly materialized as Adeboye’s Redeemed Christian Church of God currently commands one of the largest religious gatherings and membership world over.
The details of how he met his wife, Foluke, his search for spiritual succor amidst early difficulties as a newly married academic, trans versing native doctors’ rundown abodes until he met the original founder of RCCG, Pastor Josiah Akindayomi, his initial refusal to be dragged into mainstream church leadership, the succession battles and other intricacies are all captured in this production.
Except for some dragging scenes around the church activities, this is a beautiful watch. Ah, I love, love the rustic, un-tampered side of the enacted village life especially with Adeboye’s father and his restive but happy household ecstatic at the sight of a new umbrella, an item they had never seen before then and other convivial moments. Sadly, the old man died shortly after the younger Adeboye’s academic voyage. Thanks to an uncle and an amazing principal, he was able to pull through school. Thankfully too, his mum lived long enough to enjoy the fruits of her labor, even if not very long enough to see the full fulfillment of her prophetic prayers for her ambitious son, I think.
One other observation is the impressive way in which Mike Bamiloye of the Mount Zion drama fame is being succeeded by his son, Damilola Mike-Bamiloye. Damilola co-directs the film which is produced by Solid Rock Foundation and his family’s Mount Zion Film Productions.
His parents, Mike and Gloria also featured in the movie. Some others of his siblings are also into acting and film productions. It looks like the handing over of a mantle, albeit with modern technologies and a more urbane touch but with the same evangelical fire. A worthy legacy besides the multitudes of other actors that Mount Zion has trained over the decades in acting and film productions.
Also, this is not a paid review, just my thoughts on a great production. I think you should watch it. There is more to see.
— Betty Abah
