The Black Book (2023 film)

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The Black Book
Directed by Editi Effiong
Written by
  • Bunmi Ajakaiye
  • Editi Effiong
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Yinka Edward
Edited byAntonio Rui Ribeiro
Music by Kulanen Ikyo
Production
company
Distributed by Netflix
Release date
  • 22 September 2023 (2023-09-22)
Running time
2 hours 4 minutes
Country Nigeria
LanguagesEnglish, Nigerian Pidgin
Budget$1,000,000

The Black Book is a 2023 Nigerian crime thriller film produced and directed by Editi Effiong, starring Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sam Dede, Shaffy Bello, Femi Branch, Alex Usifo, Ade Laoye and Ireti Doyle. [1] [2] The film was released to Netflix on 22 September 2023. Following the killing of his innocent son, Paul Edima (Richard Mofe-Damijo) seeks to avenge the death of his son and goes after the mastermind, who also doubles as his former boss, General Issa (played by Alex Usifo). [2]

Contents

Nigerian online newspaper Premium Times has likened Richard Mofe-Damijo's character in the film to John Wick's character owing to the storyline leaning towards a former hitman who is now drawn back into the criminal underworld he had abandoned. [3]

Synopsis

Professor Craig (Bimbo Akintola) and his baby are kidnapped in the streets of Lagos, Nigeria, by an armed gang. Even though his wife resigns from her job at an anti-corruption agency following the gang orders, Craig and his child are killed.

To cover their doings, the plotters sort to pin the killing to an innocent Damilola Edima (Olumide Oworu), son of Paul Edima (Richard Mofe-Damijo). Damilola is killed by corrupt policemen who frame him as the organizer behind the kidnapping. Aspiring journalist Vic Kalu (Ade Laoye) tries to help a devastated Paul Edima, who initially refuses her help and advises her to leave the case. After learning from Kalu about the men who killed his son, Edima abducts and tortures them and records their confession on camera. Kalu takes the SD card with the video and shows it to her boss, who destroys it, arguing the case is too sensitive. The gang kills several police officers and tell Nigerian police to accuse Edima, who is declared public enemy.

General Issa sends sends men to kill him, but Paul takes them down and subsequently refuses the money offered by Issa in compensation for the loss of his son. Open war is declared between the two men. At the church where Vic Kalu was raised as an orphan, Edima confesses that he was formerly part of a drug dealing gang led by Issa but has since gone low and settled to serving God as a deacon. He then reveals that he was the hitman who killed Kalu's mother, also an investigative journalist who was going to publish about Issa's illegal activities.

The church is stormed by armed men who abduct Kalu, while Edima escapes the shooting alive. Paul seeks the help of Big Daddy, a powerful business woman with her private army of female soldiers. Together, they elaborate a plan to storm the headquarters of the gang and free Kalu. Surrendering to the gang, Edima finds himself in a cell with the journalist, who tries to shoot him when she is given the chance by Issa. However, soon afterwards, Big Daddy and her soldiers, disguised as farmers, invade the complex, kill gang members and take a case from the gang's safe. Edima explains that after killing Kalu's mother, he refused to kill her and instead took her to a church. He then threatened to blackmail General Issa by giving away the black book, where he wrote all the operations of the gang. In exchange for the book, Issa let Edima and Kalu go away.

Big Daddy leaks a video showing the gang killing four army officers to cover-up illegal mining activities. This triggers a military invasion of the gang headquarters, many gang members fleeing away. Alone and helpless, Issa is confronted by Edima and later arrested. Eventually, Vic Kalu retrieves the case and find inside the black book. While Edima can finally bury his son, he asks Kalu to reveal the story to the press. Subsequently, many top personalities linked to the gang are arrested.

Selected cast

[4]

Production

The film's executive producers include tech founders Kola Oyeneyin, Ezra Olubi (co-founder of Paystack), Odunayo Oweniyi (co-founder and COO of Piggyvest), Gbenga Agboola (founder and CEO of Flutterwave), Kola Aina (founding partner at Ventures Partner), and Olumide Soyombo (cofounder Blue Chip Technologies). [5]

The film was produced with a budget of $1 million, making it the Most Expensive Movie Production in Nollywood. [6] [7] [8]

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References

  1. ↑ Odeh, Nehru. "Richard Mofe-Damijo shines in "The Black Book"". PM News.
  2. 1 2 Enitan, Abdultawab. "'The Black Book' review: Richard Mofe-Damijo's struggle over lynched son resonates with #JusticeforMohbad". Vanguard .
  3. ↑ Kalu, Esther (2023-09-23). "MOVIE REVIEW: The Black Book: RMD shines as Nigeria's John Wick, but it's not enough to save complicated plot". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  4. ↑ Udugba, Anthony (2023-09-23). "Nollywood veterans shine in Editi Effiong's Netflix film". Businessday NG. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  5. ↑ Eleanya, Frank (2023-09-15). "The Black Book: When tech founders turn Nollywood producers". Businessday NG. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  6. ↑ YNaija (2023-09-22). "The Film Blog: Take a Look at The Investors Behind Nollywood's Million Dollar Movie "The Black Book" » YNaija". YNaija. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  7. ↑ VibeOnVibe.com.ng (2023-09-27). "'The Black Book' becomes Nollywood's first No.1 on Netflix worldwide". VibesOnVibe.com.ng. Retrieved 2023-09-27.
  8. ↑ Eleanya, Frank (2023-09-26). "'The Black Book review: Chapters in Effiong's directorial debut >>". Businessday NG. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
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