Drink, a Nollywood film crafted by the adept Nigerian filmmaker Victor Okere and penned by Remi Ibinola, graced cinemas globally on Friday, December 8, under the banner of Blue Pictures Film Distributions, hailing from the esteemed Pandavic Productions.
This cinematic creation features a stellar ensemble cast including Alex Ekubo, Nancy Isime, Stephnora Okere, Zack Orji, Nosa Rex, Jibola Dabo, Vincent Opurum, Uche Montana, Samira Fashina, Ola Olasope, Bimbo Peters, Onwudi Andrew, Amos Ndubueze, Toju Peters, Eleazu Texas, among others.
The narrative unfolds the love story of Olumide and Anuli Roberts, portrayed by Alex Ekubo and Nancy Isime, respectively. The couple, fresh from their honeymoon, faces a sudden twist when Olumide experiences unexplained episodes of drunkenness, leaving Anuli bewildered. What ensues is a rollercoaster of emotions, challenging the foundation of their union.
While the actors delivered commendable performances, the film succeeds in conveying a crucial message, shedding light on a medical condition that can be easily misconstrued as a spiritual ailment or “village people” in African society. However, the plot suffers from inconsistencies, particularly in the second half. Unresolved elements, such as the identity of the thugs who caused Olumide’s memory loss, linger without explanation, creating a disjointed narrative.
The film kicks off with a recently married couple deeply in love. However, their bliss is short-lived as challenges arise, leading the bride to seek refuge at her parents’ home. Eventually, they reunite and attempt to confront the issues together. Unfortunately, the second half of the movie is marred by poor execution. Key questions remain unanswered, such as the identity of the thugs who forcibly relocated the protagonist, causing memory loss, and who orchestrated this act?
These critical plot points are left unexplored. The abrupt recovery of the protagonist’s memory deserves a bombastic side-eye. The overall orchestration of this portion of the movie is lacking in coherence and leaves much to be desired.
Despite these drawbacks, Drink explores poignant societal themes, including tribal prejudices within Nigeria, exemplified by the tensions between Yorubas and Igbos as depicted amongst the couples’ family members with Anuli’s mum blaming Yorubas for every trouble and Olumide’s mom blaming the Igbos for every trouble.
The film highlights the significance of addressing unresolved issues before marriage, underscoring the potential for problems that could escalate. It also portrays the unity and resilience in marriage, showcasing Anuli’s determination to stand by her husband and confront the root cause of their challenges.
Furthermore, the movie illustrates the potential consequences of ignorance. The family initially misinterprets Olumide’s struggles as spiritual attacks, wrongly accusing his ex-partner. Little do they know that his predicament is a medical condition, emphasizing the price that can be paid for lack of awareness.
While the storyline may falter, the cinematography deserves accolades, effectively capturing diverse scenes and settings. Despite its narrative shortcomings, Drink manages to tackle significant themes and serves as an enlightening exploration of Auto-brewery syndrome.
In conclusion, Kemi Filani rates Drink a 6/10, acknowledging its thematic richness and its exploration of the Auto-brewery medical condition despite the shortcomings in its storytelling execution.
