A Father’s Love Review: Family, Betrayal And Unexpected Parenthood

Directed by Sebastian Ukwa and produced under Steve Guka’s First Feature project, A Father’s Love is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime. The film follows the story of David, a man with a wife named Ladi and three children, who are already grappling with more problems than solutions. One of their children suffers from Sickle Cell anaemia, adding to their challenges. With mounting pressure and limited hours to earn enough for the family’s basic needs, David’s life takes a dramatic turn when a baby is unexpectedly abandoned in the back of his taxi. Despite his innocence, no one believes David’s pleas of innocence and matters escalate further when a shocking secret comes to light, shattering the fragile semblance of normalcy the family had.

Plot

The film delves into the life of David Nwachukwu, a taxi driver struggling to make ends meet on a low income. He is a father of three, including David Junior who suffers from sickle cell anaemia. The family faces immense hardships trying to provide for themselves, compounded by David’s wife who earns a living selling Akara.

 Their challenges intensify as David Junior’s frequent hospitalizations due to his condition strain their finances further. To cover some of the hospital bills, David agrees to a blood transfusion, to cover for some of the hospital bills. A simple blood transfusion that thickens the movie’s plot later on. Complicating matters, David also borrows money from a longtime friend and car repairer, forcing him to take on extra work to repay his debts amidst mounting financial pressures.

One eventful day amidst the chaos of Lagos, he found himself unexpectedly in possession of a baby. A passenger had apparently left the infant in his car. In a bid to resolve the situation, he approached the police station, only to face accusations of attempting to abandon a child born out of wedlock. Despite his efforts and the commotion that ensued, he eventually took the baby home, with Ladi’s reluctant agreement.

As he struggled to manage the unexpected addition to his life, he turned to Gidi FM’s prominent radio broadcaster, Big Sis, for help. During the live broadcast, listeners offered various opinions and urged him to conduct a DNA test to verify the child’s parentage and dispel suspicions of a scam aimed at exploiting sympathetic citizens. However, This turn of events felt surreal and improbable in the unfolding narrative.

After much resistance, he finally agreed to the DNA test. However, any relief from the results was short-lived when his doctor, responsible for Junior’s care, contacted him. This call unravelled a cascade of secrets that could either strengthen or shatter David and Ladi’s marriage, revealing betrayal, infidelity, and deeply troubling truths that may prove difficult to forgive.

Cast

In the portrayal of David Nwachukwu, actor and musical artist David Jones David brought depth and authenticity to the character. On the other hand, Yvonne Jegede’s performance as Ladi added emotional resonance to their tumultuous journey. Julian Stanley popularly known as Comedian Funny Bone played the role, of Panshak in the movie as David’s loyal friend. Uche Jumbo plays Big Sis, although not so much screen appearance but skillfully delivered. Other actors like Darasimi Nadi, Beloved Osagie, and Lydian John were also featured in A Father’s Love.

Despite the small ensemble, each actor demonstrated remarkable skill and commitment, effectively capturing the nuances of their respective roles. Their performances not only enriched the storyline but also lent a level of credibility to the unfolding drama. 

Language

While the film was predominantly shot in Lagos and primarily featured Pidgin English, Hausa was also spoken on several occasions throughout the movie. 

Summary

A Father’s Love was a fairly standard movie, lacking any standout elements. While its cinematography effectively captured the bustling energy of Lagos, the plot itself failed to captivate. The film’s prolonged scenes made for a burdensome viewing experience, ultimately leading to a rushed and unsatisfying conclusion. 

Midway through the movie, A Father’s Love, a plot twist surfaced belatedly, only to be hastily resolved in the final scenes. This abrupt resolution left the impression that the storyline had been neglected or hastily patched together, detracting from the initial narrative flow.