Title: BLOOD SISTERS (1 & 2) 

Starring: Genevieve Nnaji, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Tony Umez, Patience Ozokwor, Chelsea Gabriel

Synopsis:

Deep rooted resentment stems to murder when a woman’s jealousy of her sister sends her over the edge.

Review:

Gloria and Esther were sisters that grew up in the village. Their mother was widowed and was left the job of raising them without a father. They were poor and their mother’s goal was for them to get a good education. 

Gloria (Omotola J. Ekeinde) was the oldest, and the more fair-skinned of the two, and when it came to men, she got the most attention. Esther (Genevieve Nnaji) couldn’t stand it and it burned her up inside. Although Gloria remained humble, Esther was underhandedly trying to ruin her life.

Esther often told lies that got Gloria into trouble and she manipulated Gloria’s boyfriend into breaking up with her. Gloria was aware of the jealousy but didn’t realize the depth of it.   

Ten years later, it was all in the past for Gloria but Esther had not changed. Gloria was married and living in Lagos with her two children when Esther came to stay with them while she searched for a job in the city.

While Esther lived in the house, she witnessed the loving relationship between Gloria and her husband, Ken (Tony Umez). To Esther, Gloria had it all – a husband, two children, a new car, and she didn’t have to work. This sent Esther seething and irrational behavior followed. 

Esther continued to pretend she was happy for Gloria until the afternoon she fed Gloria poisoned fruit. After being rushed to the hospital, Gloria died a few days later. The family was aware that food poisoning was the cause of death but they didn’t know it was deliberate. 

After Gloria’s death, Esther comforted Ken and even cooked for him. It wasn’t long before she manipulated him into bed and became pregnant. Ken seemed to be under her spell to the point where he did whatever she said and even neglected his kids. But Gloria roamed the earth in spirit and as she watched over her children she haunted Esther and stripped her of any happiness. 

Let’s Talk. This is a traditional African movie with a stellar tale and well-defined characters. At the core of the story was good versus evil while the children offered an additional layer to the drama. Their father, a man in lust, neglected them while they mourned the loss of their mother. 

The kids, played by Chelsea Gabriel and Ugochukwu Igwesi, had some of the most heart wrenching scenes in the movie. They missed their mother and wished for a father but luckily received the help of an angel that was arranged by their mother but sent by God. 

Writing and direction was terrific. It’s a captivating story that’s told in a rural village that was run by its elders and where old traditions were still in effect. Each character had a specific place in the story which, allowed it to flow well and feel authentic.  

What’s noteworthy is that the two sisters were both pretty women. While it’s true that some men flock to lighter skinned women, jealousy blinded Esther to her own beauty. Had she shared in Gloria’s happiness, God would have blessed her with her own joy. 

Performances? The movie features topnotch actresses in Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade Ekeinde. Genevieve successfully displayed the vile and bitter woman against Omotola’s meek and loving character.

“Blood Sisters” exhibits the effects of jealousy and it’s pathway to self-destruction in a fascinating way but it’s the power of karma that played the award-winning role. This is a Nollywood classic. RECOMMEND