Starring: Rita Dominic, Kalu Ikeagwu, Kiki Omeili, Bimbo Ademoye, Joke Silva

Synopsis: 

A home invasion sends a couples marriage into disrepair after an eleven year union.

Review:

Jumoke and Emeka (Rita Dominic & Kalu Ikeagwu) were married despite familial opposition. They had a daughter and a love that was still going strong after eleven years. Emeka’s mother never accepted the marriage but she longed for a grandson, and to appease her, Jumoke and Emeka were trying for a son.  

An unexpected home invasion occurred where Jumoke was attacked. It left a bitter taste and a deep hole in the marriage. Adding to the fire, Emeka’s ex-girlfriend reappeared in his life and unbeknownst to Jumoke, her best friend was jealous of her.

Let’s Talk. Sometimes romantic relationships are tested and this is a prime example. We have a couple from different tribes who went against their parent’s wishes and married anyway. The marriage was successful until armed robbers stole their valuables and their pride. In this frightening ordeal, the ringleader also raped Jumoke as Emeka remained helpless. Challenging times commenced as Jumoke’s pain and Emeka’s guilt caused a breakdown in the relationship. 

This story is similar to “Tango with Me” where another couple also experienced similar circumstances.  The difference here is that Emeka and Jumoke had a peculiar way of handling things. They didn’t seek marriage counseling and Jumoke moved in with her mother which didn’t help matters.

They also did not report the rape at first as this crime is sometimes swept under the rug in the culture. Emeka allowed his ex-girlfriend to become a distraction at a time when he should have shown more empathy toward his brutally injured wife.

The armed robber’s introduction to the story was strange. We first saw him in a restaurant having a conversation yet no dialogue was heard. It forced the question of who was he and more importantly, what was he saying?  Was this due to sound issues? It was an off-putting scene to say the least.  

The subplot featured a couple that was at war due to financial issues and Amina, the wife (Kiki Omeili) was envious of Jumoke. Her feelings toward Jumoke came out of nowhere as there was no evidence of these feelings throughout.

There was a level of predictability because it was obvious that the boy with the camera would record evidence that would later be useful. Story execution could have been better as there were bland moments while the movie suffered from slow pacing.  

The cast was a lineup of winners with Rita Dominic, Kalu Ikeagwu, Kiki Omeili, and Bimbo Ademoye. The roles were well interpreted and movie would not have worked without them.

Despite a few flaws, Light in the Dark exhibited that marital obstacles can indeed be overcome.  The lead couple reframed their marriage thanks to communication, love, and support.  RECOMMEND