‘Water and Garri‘, a movie produced by Tiwa Savage which was premiered on Prime Video on May 10 has generated a lot of backlash.
The movie which was inspired by Tiwa Savage’s 2021 EP of the same name, falls short of delivering the ‘sweetness’ audiences anticipated.
Following her groundbreaking success and global recognition as a singer, Tiwa Savage’s film arrived on the streaming platform amid high anticipation and expectations from her fans, even those who are not film lovers.
While the EP itself and the subsequent album were a musical masterpiece, the same cannot be said about the movie, as it fails to capture the essence that made it special.
However, ‘Water and Garri’ has so far received negative reviews, prompting those who have not seen it to ask, “what exactly is wrong with the movie?” and “why the backlash?”
Even though ‘Water and Garri’ boasts aesthetically pleasing cinematography, beautiful locations, and good lighting, some aspects could have been paid more attention.
The backlash so far is coming from the Plot, the Character development, the directing, the setting.
Let’s talk a bit about the Plot
Water & Garri narrates the story of Ashia, a young girl on a path to finding her destiny in life. The movie opens with a scene where a young man is being chased around in the night in a slummy area, and after running in through the nooks and crannies of the streets, he ends up being shot. The narrator, Ashia, tells us not to pity him because he has met his karma for killing her brother.
Ashia had a successful career as a fashion designer in Los Angeles, but she received a sceptical call from her cousin, Stephannie, who broke the news that she lost her brother Niyi.
Three months later, Ashia had to return to the Eastside, where she was raised by her grandmother, Yemi, alongside her brother, Ayomide. Returning to Eastside wasn’t easy for Ashia, as almost everything seems to have changed since she departed ten years ago.
DIRECTING:
The acting performance in the movie is not bad at all but was not great. With better guidance from the director, the cast could have delivered more impactful performances. For instance, while Tiwa Savage’s acting shows promise as a first-time actor, it could have been elevated with more guidance and direction.
Due to the lack of better directing, there are also not enough emotions portrayed in the movie. The movie talked about losing a loved one but the pain and grief were not felt. The one place Aisha cried when she remembered Mide didn’t feel real; more could have been done. The director could have guided the actors to emote better.
There was no convincing chemistry between the actors as well. In the scenes between Jemima Osunde and Tiwa Savage, it is obvious there is no chemistry. It felt like Osunde was still nervous, anxious about acting closely with a globally celebrated singer so the closeness between them as cousins wasn’t portrayed effectively.
Overall, while the acting performances show potential, stronger directing could have elevated the emotional resonance of the film and improved the chemistry between the actors, resulting in a more compelling viewing experience.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT:
The film suffers from inadequate character development. There is no in-depth understanding of the characters and their motivations.
For instance, Aisha’s character feels one-dimensional so there is no clear sense of who she is aside from being a fashion designer. What is her plan for coming home? Is she staying back? How about her business in Los Angeles?
Also, the character that eventually killed Kay. Who is he? Why yearn to take over the street? What is his motive?
All of these questions were not communicated in the film appropriately. Although flashbacks are attempted to provide insight, they ultimately fall short of effectively fleshing out the character.
The film would have been better if the characters were well-fleshed out.
SETTING:
The setting in the film is one of its most confusing aspects, as the portrayal of the characters’ nationality and cultural background lacks consistency.
In the film, some cast members bear Yoruba names, and speak Yoruba language but the setting does not showcase any Nigerian or Yoruba culture and tradition. Others have Ghanaian accents and say ‘chale’ now and then raising questions about the cast nationality and origins. So did Aisha’s family relocate to Ghana? Which country exactly is Aisha from?
This setting confusion affected the cast making it difficult to choose whether to act and speak like Nigerians or Ghanaians.
Another is the community setting. Throughout the film, there are complaints about Eastside being a violent community but there is no tangible evidence to support the claim. No scenes depicting violence, such as fights or robberies.
The inconsistency in the depiction of the setting and cultural context detracts from the authenticity and coherence of the film.
However, if one thing truly shines in this film, it would be the cinematography.
The movie, set against the backdrop of Ghana’s Cape Coast, was a visual treat. With its cinematic flair, it captured the essence of the location impeccably.
Despite much of the action in the slums, the imagery was vibrant, boasting a rich palette that beautifully showcased the communities portrayed in the movie.
Verdict
5/10