Yet to be screened by the press and still in the post production stage, The Figurine - produced by Kunle Afolayan, adequately portrays the advances made in the Nigerian movie industry. The film has intricate plot that represents the true nature of the different facets of the lifestyles of Nigerians.
In ancient Yoruba land, set in modern Osun State, a priest brings forth ‘Araromire', the goddess of good luck and fortune who bestows wealth upon the people for seven years.
After finding a figurine in an abandoned shrine whilst in National Youth Service Corps camp in the town of Araromire, two young friends go on from a life of hustling in Lagos to become successful businessmen facing seemingly normal issues to do with friendship, love, and family.
Bizarre occurrences lead to the pointing of fingers at the ugly stranger in the house - the figurine they found seven years earlier.
Starring Ramsey Nouah, Kunle Afolayan, Omoni Oboli and Funlola Aofiyebi, this N70 million production sells the ‘Lagos Life' in an inviting manner.
In a scene like that of Nouah and Oboli hopping onto a bus en-route to their camp - the energetic nature of Lagos and its inhabitants can be appreciated, contrary to the tragic angle we are usually served both from local and international perspectives.
The film's quality is largely a result of the impeccable audio-visuals and attentive performance by the actors. Women are dressed in colourful African creations, showing off the lifestyles of the middle class, upwardly mobile Nigerian female who is educated, entrepreneurial and interested in marriage and family.
The scene with the two friends enjoying a round of golf at a golf course in Osun State added a lot of gloss to this movie. A typical scene that would have been attributed to an international location was achieved locally.
The Figurine successfully fuses traditional folklore with contemporary life whilst maintaining its relevance; it is also, unexpectedly, a thriller with some comedic timing that leaves the viewer in titters.
The Figurine is set to exceed Kunle Afolayan's first production, Irapada which positioned him as an actor and producer of high standing in the Nigerian movie industry. Irapada was screened at The Pan African Film Festival, Los Angeles, lined up at the 51st London Film Festival in 2007 and winning The Best Indigenous Nigerian Movie at the African Movie Academy Awards, AMAA 2007, amongst others accolades.
With the increasing opportunity for international coverage of Nigerian movies, especially with HiTV airing Hi-Nolly - its Nollywood dedicated movie channel on Pay TV platforms in the UK, France and the United States, the need for quality production has never been more desperate.
The true test will be the public's reaction to the film when it finally premieres this October in Lagos, Abuja, Ghana, South Africa and London.
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