Scent Of A Woman

African Nigerian Movie Review
Scent of a Woman ~ 2010
Story – Chinedu Nwani
Screenplay –Amechi Ukeje
Director – Afam Okereke
Producer – Chinedu Nwani

Actors and Actresses Starring:
Jim Iyke – Tony Nigerian Actor
Mercy Johnson – Sherry Nigerian Actress
Patience Ozokwor – Mrs George Nigerian Actress
John Dumelo – Ben Nigerian Actor
Olu Jacobs – Chief Smith Nigerian Actor
Jim Lawson Maduike – Chief George Nigerian Actor
Peter Bunor – Minister
Uche Ebere – Mrs Hilary
Browny Igboegwu – Detective
Ken Erics – Johnbull
Reverend Wasky – Chief Ogene
Ed Nnasor – Jonas
Chinedu Oga – Emenike
Chidi Ozokwor – Steve
Emma Emordi – Gateman

Nollywood Themes:
Family In Africa
Inheritance in Africa

Nollywoodforever.com Rating – 54%

Synopsis:

After Ben’s father dies he and his mother approach Chief George his uncle for his father’s shares in the family company so that he can continue his studies abroad. His uncle refuses but then in the same breath answer’s the phone in their presence to grant his son the sum of £6000 for his accommodation in the UK. He claims that his stinginess towards his nephew is borne out of a desire to turn him into a “real man.” Nigerian Movie

*************SPOILERS*************

What sort of irresponsible mother would allow her son to go to New York, one of the most expensive cities in the world, armed only with a bible? He cannot work so it is left up to the “grace of God” to find him food and accommodation. Seriously how is he meant to survive without turning to illegality or begging? He has no tuition fees to be able to resume his studies, so what is he really going there to do? Now if we are told that he has a green card or he has arranged to stay with friends then that is a different story, but there is no mention of such. Nigerian Movie

Chief George’s behaviour is shocking. He sends his drunk and wayward son Tony money but then leaves his nephew, who is clearly ambitious, hardworking and with goals, stranded and without the cash flow to finish his studies.
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Ben returns home after 5 years and rolls up to his mama’s crib with a brand new car. His mother admonishes him and tells him, “that was not necessary,” and points to the impressive array of cars that already stand in the compound that belonged to his father. HOLD UP!!! There are at least 5 luxury cars parked in the compound. Why on earth they were not sold to fund John’s studies? Instead his useless mother sent him to the US empty handed.

It is when he returns that Chief George offers Ben his father’s shares in the company, 800 Million Naira. What is the point of offering him vasts sums of money when he is now flossing? When he needed it you were stalling and talking about making him a man. The guy could have at least just paid Ben’s tuition. Its all very well that he came back with a degree and businesses in the US but in reality how likely was that to happen? In reality the guy would have ended up turning to crime, in jail or selling his ass. Nonsense.
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Not only does Chief George become Father Christmas but he now turns his favour to Ben as opposed to Tony his son. There is one thing I don’t get about this part of the story. We see Ben going out to secure contracts for Chief Ben after Tony messes it up. I thought that Ben was working for himself. That is what he declared when he returned from the US, that he was starting up his own outfit and wouldn’t be working for the family company. It is like that part of the story was dismissed without explanation and we see Ben working for the company and not for himself. Was this the story? Or was something lost in translation?

The story was so predictable in that after Chief George altered his will to oust his son, he goes and dies, not only does he does but he dies the SAME FRIGGING DAY. I mean I knew they were going to have him die, but to die as he leaves the office from changing the will. I thought that that was too much and lacked creativity and originality.

The movie does not end so we can deduce from that that there will be a continuation. I was surprised that there was no sizzle between Mercy and Jim or Mercy and John but I guess that is not surprising since she was not supposed to be into Jim romantically and the fact that John was supposed to be a workaholic concerned with little else.
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Conclusion:

I would recommend the movie if you have nothing better doing. It was definitely watchable and I did enjoy it to an extent. On the downside I felt that certain aspects of the story did not make sense and were not well developed. In the beginning it is made out that Chief George is trying to leave his brother’s family in poverty and then the next minute he is showing great generosity. The story that he wanted to turn his nephew into “a man” did not ring true. Why then did he not want to make his own son “a man?” On the plus side the movie moved at a pretty good pace throughout until the latter part of part 2 at this point it got a bit draggy. Anyway watch and see!