Nollywood actress, Bimbo Akintola, is currently in South Africa for a movie project.
The Smoke and Mirrors, Beyond the Verdict, Out of Bounds and Keeping Faith star joins fellow University of Ibadan alumnus, Fabian Lojede, of the Jacob’s Cross, October 1 and Man on Ground fame in Durban for the production titled Comatose.
The two celebrated Nigerian actors are playing siblings Segun (Fabian) and Omowunmi (Bimbo) in a family drama over whether or not to pull the plug on their mother, Nana, who is in a coma.
Nana is played by celebrated South African actress, Mary Twala, known for Sarafina, Taxi to Soweto and The No1 Ladies Detective Agency.
Comatose brings an African perspective to a universal story: one wants to pull the plug; the other wants to keep the mother alive. One resides in Lagos, Nigeria and the other in California, United States.
In a battle of wills, dark family secrets come to light, relationships are shattered and the true meaning of love is revealed.
Comatose also stars French noir favourite Aissa Maiga (Mood Indigo, Hidden Cache, Paris Je T’aime) as Nandi; Hollywood’s Hakeem Kae Kazim (Black Sails, 24, Hotel Rwanda, Gotham/Pirates of the Caribbean and Man on Ground) as Dr. Kalu; Robert Whitehead (Isidingo, Diamond Hunters, Shaka Zulu) as Dr. Collins; and Deborah Lettner (Angel of the Skies, Casting Me, Beaver Falls) as Michelle.
The film is being directed by South African award-winning film, TV and commercials director Mickey Madoda Dube (Sobukwe: A Great Soul).
Principal photography began in Durban on June 13 and will run until July 20, to be continued in Nigeria.
The 1Take Media production is adapted from a play written by prolific Canadian-Nigerian writer, Jude Idada.
It is funded by the South African Department of Trade and Industry, the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), and the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission and 1Take Media.
Fabian, who co-wrote the script and is also co-producing with Mickey, said: “This is going to be the most challenging role I’ve played. The film has so many layers: visual and narrative.”
In a brief chat with Qed.ng, he describes Bimbo’s performance as “amazing”.
Director/co-producer Mickey said of Comatose: “I want to make a film so rich and layered, yet moving and mysterious all at once, throbbing with the energy and talent at our disposal, tackling an issue that is universal, but spoken through our voice, our soul, while taking the world on this journey towards a humanity that speaks to us all as one – in Life, and in Death, not in a Limbo, a world neither here nor there. As one person who woke up from a coma stated: ‘life is life, but death is merely a changing room.’”
The film is set for a 2017 release.
