Title: MUMMY’S DAUGHTER (1-3)

AKA: SET APART

Starring: Nadia Buari, Jackie Appiah, Kalsoume Sinare, Van Vicker

Synopsis:
A mother exerts lifelong emotional scars on her stepdaughter until love intercepts the resentment.

Review:
It all started years ago when Gladys (Kalsoume Sinare) caught her sister having an affair with her husband. Not only did she discover the betrayal, she she realized they had a secret child together. Rumors dictated that Gladys killed her sister through witchcraft and some time later her husband supposedly took ill and died. But before her husband passed he made Gladys promise to raise his orphaned lovechild, Anita.

Gladys kept her promise and raised Anita (Nadia Buari) alongside their biological daughter, Princess (Jackie Appiah). The two daughters were close but were regarded differently. Princess received preferential treatment while Anita served as nothing but a reminder of the betrayal. 

Years later when the girls were young adults, Gladys made arrangements for Princess to marry Fred (Van Vicker). He was well mannered, handsome, and the son of a successful businessman. Fred sent a gift addressed to “Gladys’s daughter” and Gladys assumed the gift was for Princess.

Unbeknownst to the family, the gift was meant for Anita. Fred and Anita met at work and their business relationship turned romantic. Things heated up when Gladys found out about them when she saw them kissing. Gladys was adamant that Princess be the one to marry Fred and she took matters into her own hands.

Let’s Talk. This is a love story in more ways than one. It was about the love between a man and a woman, it was about the love between two sisters, but most importantly, it was about a woman that yearned for the love of her mother. Love. What a powerful emotion.

The story could have easily been about sibling rivalry and a competition for a man but it wasn’t. The sisters loved each other so much that they were willing to give up the man that they both loved to make the other happy.

What was most touching was Anita’s love for her stepmother who emotionally abused her for most of her life. Anita grew up without a father and she looked for parental love from her stepmother.

The movie also consisted of a subplot about a couple that suffered trust issues. These characters were played by Ecow Smith Asante and Stella Damascus. Although the movie could have done without them, it was a pleasure to watch Ecow’s smooth rendition of the character.

Unfortunately, the story had a few shortcomings. The relationship between Anita and Fred was underdeveloped because they went from co-workers to couple in the blink of an eye. And what was up with the communication between them? Why didn’t Fred just ask her if she got the gift he sent her? He had to have noticed that she never wore the jewelry he purchase for her.

Speaking of Fred, he was promoted from driver to CEO. Whoa. I guess that’s possible when Daddy owns the company!

Also worth a mention was how Gladys arranged a marriage between Princess and Fred yet Fred had no idea about it. It was ridiculous that Princess believed she was engaged to a man that barely knew she was alive.

Performances? On point – especially Nadia Buari’s emotional portrayal of her character.

At the story’s conclusion, love conquered all. With all flaws aside, the writers gave it a heart warming close. RECOMMEND