WHEN GENEVIEVE WEPT

Geneveive Nnaji

It was a highly charged emotional moment for Nigeria’s screen diva Genevieve Nnaji at TIFF Talk, the question and answer session held immediately after the premiering of her new film Lionheart at the Toronto International Film festival a few days back.

Lionheart, a star studded film about how an Igbo family coped after the death of their breadwinner who left behind a flourishing transport business had star actors on parade including Nkem Owoh, Pete Edochie, Onyeka Onwenu , Kanayo O Kanayo, Ngozi Ezeonu, Chika Okpala (zebrudaya);

Other actors who feature in Lionheart are Steve Eboh, Sani Muazu, Jemima Osunde, Kalu Ikeagwu.

It is also the star actors first time as director.

When Genny was called up on stage after the wide reception of the film,  it was an upsurge of emotions as it took more than five minutes to calm her down from her outpouring of tears at the world gathering of film people.

She just stood there seemingly tongue tied at the full hall filled with diversely racial audience until a white handkerchief was sent up stage to help her dab the tears away.

When she recovered from her emotional trip, she quickly called up the writer of the film Chinny Onwugbenu, whom she said is her best friend and Nkem Owoh, the film’s lead character to join her in support.

According to Genny who also announced the big deal Lionheart has struck with Netflix, one the world’s most popular distribution platforms,  the movie is the outcome of dreaming big and working patiently with Chinny and Nkem as well as the cross cultural cast and crew.

Since the premiering of Lionheart, Genevieve has been guest to Richard Quest of CNN and has been subject of positive reviews.

Top flight Nollywood director Lancelot Oduwa Imasuen who was a member of the audience at theToronto International Film festival 2018 captured it this way. This is “a true Nigeria home video styled film that has captured the world..no memdemende added..just same old simple Nigerian Enugu of old beautifully told story by same old nollywood veterans..Pete Edochie, Onyeka Nwennu ,Nkem Owoh,I mean the same old Osuofia nothing added,Ngozi Ezeonu,zebrudaya. And loads of same old nollywood faces based in Enugu..and they made it to the international scene,in a jammed cinema hall inside the big city of Toronto, mixed audience, 75 percent whites..they laughed when necessary, cried when necessary and at the end everyone agreed unanimously that they all thoroughly enjoyed the truly made in Nigeria movie..great sound,beautiful pictures, and of course fast paced cutting that really did the magic”
By Fred Iwenjora