By Mava John Joshua
The movie begins with veteran Actor Richard Mofe Damijo as Paul Edemi, a Deacon, writing his memoirs about his past as a former high level syndicate leader. It then pans to a typical busy Lagos city traffic, music, horn blaring, noisy, with high humidity, onlookers on the bridge, law enforcement agents being tipped, merriments and the bustling nature of the environment. Within this montage sequences, we see a kidnaping activity going by a gang led by another veteran Actor Sam Dede,
While Mr Craig (Patrick Dolye) the husband of Prof. Stella Craig, (Bimbo Akintola) the DG of Nigeria Energy and Oil Company (NEOC) was in his SUV attending to his baby in the heat of the humid traffic caused by members of SAKS. Typical of “big men” in the society, the police driver wanted to use the siren, but he asked him to be patient. In a flash, he was attacked by this gang, threatened to come down from the SUV. His police driver shot, while the maid who made an attempt to escape with the baby could not succeed. The attack was carried out with the sole purpose of blackmailing the Professor to resign from her position as she seems to be uncovering some dark corruption secrets of a powerful cartel.
The Black Book, produced and directed by Editi Effiong, was focused on crime and corruption in high places.
Big Future, a Kenyan had this to say about the flick: “As a Kenyan, I can confidently say, “Nigeria to the world”. This is a reincarnation of Nollywood, the birth of a great future, an epic storyline, great casting, top-notch authenticity, exquisite directing. I’d want to write a script this enthralling. Much love from Kenya” while Allegra Williams saw saw an evolution of Nigeria movie industry in The Black Book. “Great seeing Naija movies evolve. For those saying very Americanized, clearly, know very little about naija criminal underworld. Just as you have different categories abroad, so does naija. A lot happening and editing could have been tighter.
Promise Solomon scored the movie thus: “This kind of quality from a Nigeria film is almost unexpected, the movie is so Nigerian and yet so dope, the attempt at retaining the Christian values at the end is so satisfying, its a must watch for all Nigeria and beyond, you wouldn’t regret it”
Parading a rich cast of veterans, the Nollywood movie is yet another testament of the growth and improvement of the Nigeria film industry. From acting to directing and filming, The Black Book is a movie to watch.
