The Special screening of the movie Going Bongo
took place at Cineworld Haymarket on Thursday 4th June 2004. Though
not a typical Nollywood movie, the Nollywood industry was represented by
stakeholders including HRH Theodora Ibekwe-Oyebade, Ayo Sonaiya, DJ Abass, Riyike Alayande, Babs Carew, Naimat Timson,
Danny Erskine, Jay Afrofilms amongst others.
Storyline: Going Bongo is the first international film to
be shot in Tanzania and is about a newly qualified American Doctor who is eager
to impress his new boss in a medical practice he is about to start working in
at his new position in the Beverly Hills Medical Centre in Los Angeles. He is
about to be married and his fiancé is eager to do everything that would make him successful
and be a high flier in society. After attending a Gala arranged by his new
boss, he mistakenly volunteers to go and work in Africa for a month in a
hospital with no facilities and in total bad shape.
The storyline is based on the
experience of the script writer and lead character Ernest Napoleon. The story
is real and highlights the differences in medical facilities in developed
countries as in the United States of America and in some parts of Africa as in
the city of Bongo in Tanzania. One could not but watch from the beginning to
the end. The movie was full of humour and kept the whole audience laughing all
the time.
As a reviewer and critic, I like when
a writer looks at a real issue and tells the story in a way that people can
follow and understand and for this I give Ernest credit for a job well done. I
would have liked to say more, but I would not like to give away the cat from
the bag and would encourage people to go and watch this epic movie when it hits the
cinemas.
Cast: The film starred Ernest Napoleon (Dr. Lewis Burger),
Emmanuella Galliussi (Laura Carmenucci), Ashley Olds (Marina Kezerian), Nyokabi
Gethaiga (Tina), MacDonald
Haule
(Bahame), Mariam
Peter
(Zola Mwandenga), Evance
Bukuku
(Kaligo), Gabriel
Jarret
(Brian Kaufman), Jeff Joslin (Perry Weiss), Betty
Kazimbaya
(Mama Mwandenga), Ahmed Olotu (Yazidi), Robert
Sisko
(Dr.Eliot Lerner), Richard
Halverson
(Cyril Flaws), Maiz Lucero (Dr. Trout), Sauda Simba (Rose), Meredith
Thomas
(Anne Lerner), Milena
Gardasevic (Coco Banaloche), Felix Ryan (Armen),
Artem Belov (Marvin), Tasha Dixon (Gwen Kaufman), D.A.
Goodman
(Man in Tuxedo), Lisa
Goodman
(Aunt Tia), Libertad
Green
(Lady in Evening Gown), Serdar
Kalsin
(Uncle Hovan), Amby
Lusekelo
(Hospital Clerk), Mzome
Mahmoud
(Tende), Robert
McPhalen
(Featured Background), Maulidi Mfaume (Mob Leader), Tukise
Mogoje
(Tende voice), Casmir
Mukohi
(Taxi Driver), Dennis
Nicomede
(Man in Tuxedo), Abraham
Ntonya
(Taxi Driver (voice), Charles
Onesmo
(Thief), Brian
Ronalds
(Blossey Swanson), Stephanie
Ronalds
(Nurse Stephanie), Queen
Victoria of Sheba
(Ma), Anthony
Skordi
(Pop), Patrick
Stalinski
(Patrick Steel) & Sewell
Whitney
(Bill)
The
movie was written by Ernest Napoleon, produced by Nick Marwa and Directed by Dean Matthew
Ronalds. The movie was shot both in the United Stets of America and in
Tanzania. I listened to the script writer as he briefed the audience about
constraints in funds and how in Africa, they had to use amateurs from an acting
club to play roles in the movie.
Let
me start from the African cast. I commend the Crew for working with raw talent.
This is a big risk more so when you are trying to release a movie that would
make impact where the cast not only audition but must be known names. If I am
not to lie to you, when I watch a movie or want to choose a movie to watch, I
look at the actors and decide if I want to watch that movie.
Usually,
if the key names are unknown, I class the movie as low budget and I am not
likely to watch it. Please don’t crucify me as I know that is what you do.
However, this movie has changed my mindset and I would now watch a movie
whether or not I know the cast and judge later. The cast in Africa did not act
like amateurs (the nurses, doctors and team in the hospital), they were just
natural and played their parts excellently well.
Talking
about the other cast, Ernest and his fiancé in the movie played their roles
in a believable manner. People who watch the movie can understand what they are
trying to portray and align with them. Same with the “big” doctors in the Beverly Hills Medical Centre.
Overall, I think there was a good balance in the
cast. I cannot think of anyone that I can single out that did not play their
roles properly and I stand to be corrected. I give kudos to the Director, cast and the crew for pulling together a very
successful movie.
Picture Quality: The picture quality
was generally good for the budgetary constraints especially in the scenes in Africa. We were made aware that the movie was shot in
a real hospital that was functioning and without facilities and that the crew
had to adapt taking only one take on most of the scenes.
However, in spite of the above
constraints, I did not notice shaky pictures or pictures that were out of frame
and for this I commend the team.
Sound Quality: With regards to the
sound, again the same constraints applied but in spite of this, the sound was
of very good quality. I really did not have cause for concern with the general
sound quality of the movie.
Overall performance: Overall, what can I
say? I sat down there hoping to find things that I could pick on that were
negative, but the more I was looking, the more I was impressed and hoping that
the Nollywood industry could borrow a leaf from this movie.
This movie was
evidence that sometimes, even with a low budget but with the right focus and a
spirit of excellence, a very good movie can be produced.
Going Bongo would
soon be released as a series on TV and is also going to be shown in cinemas
soon. The big question is whether I would recommend this movie. WITHOUT
HESITATION, I would recommend this movie any day and anytime. Going into the
city to watch the movie was worth my time. I would like to shout out to anyone
reading this review to endeavour to watch this movie when it is released in the
cinemas. I would be watching it again myself!!!
In concluding this
review, I would like to congratulate the entire cast and crew for a job well
done.
Watch the trailer:
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