Starring:  Chimezie Imo, Toyin Abraham, Odunlade Adekola

Synopsis:  An alienated teenager finds acceptance in a gang involved with organized crime.

Review:

Nimbe (Chimezie Imo), a straight-laced teenager with good grades was sadly an outcast. The kids at school picked on him and at home he witnessed discord with his parents. Just when he was in need of a friend he met Ralph (Molawa Davis), a guy that interceded when he was being harassed by fellow students. They had an instant connection and soon after Ralph introduced him to drugs as a way to get by. 

Nimbe’s mother noticed a change in his behavior so she followed him one morning when he was supposed to be on his way to school. She learned he had been spending time at a drug hangout. She was devastated and his father threw him out. When he tried to stay at Ralph’s place, Ralph rejected him. With nowhere to turn Nimbe landed back at the drug house where his life spiraled out of control.

Let’s Talk. This movie was on my radar for the longest and I finally caught the spirit to watch it. It captured my interest right away although it didn’t go where I expected it to.  It’s a coming of age story about Nimbe, a boy who was bullied at school. Drug abuse is the subplot that competed with his issues and a rape storyline found it’s way into the chaos. 

Nimbe’s desire for solace led him to accept the friendship of Ralph (Molawa Davis), who turned out to be a bad seed. As a result, Nimbe changed from a guy with a promising future into a drug user capable of violence. 

The mission here was to convey how easily a black boy’s life can easily go astray and how their choices affect the rest of their lives. The point is that positive role models can help navigate young lives down the right path. The reality is that there are single mothers who have the challenging task of raising children without the help of a father. The influence of a positive male is important, especially in a young boy’s life.

Although Nimbe had a father at home, he was an abusive one, so his father’s impact didn’t expand past monetary provisions.  His mother tried to wear both hats but Nimbe was too far gone in the world of drug abuse and crime. 

Bullying, the heart of this movie, is a global issue. Some don’t fit in for whatever reason which leads to feelings of detachment. After being plagued by peers on a regular basis, it’s common for a victim to finally strike back and suffer the consequences although it’s he/she that was actually the victim. It’s disheartening that a basically good kid can have their life derailed thanks to one or two punks. It’s up to teachers to recognize these situations and protect students under their care.

As for performances, Chimezie Imo was a good fit for the role of Nimbe. His character transformation from introverted boy to gutsy young man was proficiently done. Toyin Abraham’s portrayal of his mother teetered on melodramatic but she aced the character.

There are plenty of “Nimbes” all over the world who face unprovoked hostility. The filmmakers most likely drew from those headlines and produced a film that had one too many plots but still landed on solid ground.  RECOMMEND