Farmer’s Bride, directed by Adebayo Tijani, is a story of love, societal pressure, and cultural clashes. Written by Jack’enneth Opukeme, the film stars Gbubemi Ejeye, Tobi Bakre, Femi Branch, Wumi Toriola, and Mercy Aigbe.
Set in 1980s Ibadan, the story follows Funmi, a young woman forced into an arranged marriage by her mother. She is expected to bring peace and joy to Odun, a wealthy elderly farmer in the later years of his life. Life with Odun is not satisfactory to Funmi who feels confined to a remote farm and a life she had no part in deciding for herself.
Farmer’s Bride explores self-discovery, desire, and the struggles of resisting societal expectations. I doubt I would have been moved if the movie had been done with a modern setting. However, the 80s feel, and the rich display of Yoruba culture via costumes added a strong vibe that brought nostalgic feelings.
One of the movie’s themes which I enjoyed the most is the forbidden romance between Funmi and Odun’s cousin named Femi. The chemistry they shared together was interesting. Femi’s entrance into Funmi’s life finally gave her moments of relief from what was her miserable life.
The acting, overall, is commendable. Mercy Aigbe delivers an excellent performance as Morenike, Odun’s late brother’s widow, who plays a key role in Funmi’s life. Gbubemi Ejeye, as Funmi, effectively portrayed the inner turmoil of a young woman torn between personal freedom and the demands of society. I must confess that sometimes her acting felt too pushed and dramatic, especially the emotional parts, thereby causing a disconnection between the display and the effect it is supposed to have on viewers. Tobi Bakre did well because his acting and forbidden romance with Funmi gave me the feeling one gets when trying to steal something that isn’t yours. Femi Branch as Odun is quite impressive in his performance as Odun. He was one of those who made me eager to see the movie after being captivated by his display in House of Ga’a.
The visual presentation of Farmer’s Bride is stunning, especially in the landscape scenes, rural farm settings, and intimate close-up shots of the characters while displaying emotions. The scene where Odun was addressing his farmers is awesome. The cast of skin tones with a green background caused by the cassava plants created an analogous colour contrast. The lighting of the indoor scenes is superb and devoid of the usual harsh hotspots on the foreheads of black actors. The set designs are typical of the 80s. I really liked the design of Odun’s living room. It gave off this Victorian house aura with a Yoruba vibe. Even if you don’t like Farmer’s Bride, I can bet that you will be held down till the end of the movie due to the visuals. The tribal marks on Wumi Toriola, who played Funmi’s mother, are convincing. Reminds me of the tribal marks on the faces of the characters in Anikulapo.
I find Farmer’s Bride impressive because it is devoid of the usual happy ending most Nollywood movies are known for. Instead, the ending is more sombre and open-ended, leaving the audience to reflect on what just transpired. The movie gets a 6.5/10.
