Jack’eneth Opukeme, the director behind the much-anticipated film Farmer’s Bride, has shed light on the powerful message driving the storyline of the movie.
Speaking at the Movie Press Screening on Thursday in Lagos, Opukeme, who co-directed the film with Adebayo Tijani, noted the twists of human nature and the consequences of forced decisions.
Drawing parallels to the tragic figure of Odewale from Ola Rotimi’s renowned play The Gods Are Not to Blame, Opukeme stressed that it’s difficult to predict human reactions when individuals are forced into difficult situations.
He argued that had Funmi, the film’s central character, not been coerced into a marriage she did not desire, the tragic events that followed could have been avoided.
“Humanity is complex,” Opukeme stated. “You can’t control my reaction after putting me in a tight corner. The message of the film is that the monsters we create are the ones that will haunt us tomorrow. If we had just left a central character alone, a lot of things wouldn’t have happened.”
Farmer’s Bride tells the emotional story of Odun, a wealthy farmer whose search for companionship in his old age leads him to marry Funmi, a young woman forced into the union by her parents.
Funmi, unable to find love or happiness in the marriage, enters into a forbidden relationship with Odun’s nephew, Femi, setting off a chain of events that explores themes of love, betrayal, and tragedy.
The film, released in cinemas on September 27, 2024, boasts an impressive cast that includes Tobi Bakre, Gbubemi Ejeye, Femi Branch, Mercy Aigbe, Efe Irele, and Wumi Toriola