Starring:  O.C. Ukeje, Indira Nascimento, Paulo André, Barry Igujie

Synopsis:  A Nigerian musician travels to Brazil to search for his estranged brother, who is living a life very different than the one his family thought. 

Review:

In African tradition much is expected of the oldest male child, therefore Ikenna (Chudwudi Iwuji) had a special significance in his family. He moved from Nigeria to Brazil and then virtually disappeared. Out of concern, his mother sent Amadi (OC Ukege), the younger brother, to Brazil to find him.

Once in Brazil, Amadi hit the streets of Sao Paulo and fate brought him to a laptop that Ikenna had abandoned at a repair shop. The trail to find Ikenna yielded roadblocks and mistruths but ultimately led to his whereabouts where the two brothers finally came face to face. After years of no communication, the reunion was pleasant at first but then morphed into a meltdown when deception and family myths came to head.  

Let’s Talk. The true talent of a director is their ability to clearly bring their vision to life. Of course, the question always becomes whether the story was worth telling. Director, Matias Mariani, successfully incorporated his creativity and cultural insight into a simple premise about a man in search of his brother. The cinematography allowed us to tour the congested city of Sao Paulo, an urban melting pot of multicultural locals.

Nigerian actor, OC Ukege, played the lead role. His character’s frustrations commenced when he arrived in Brazil and didn’t speak language, was unfamiliar with the territory, and had no clue where to find his brother. Common sources like the internet were utilized but his brother’s laptop became key in the investigation. 

The forces at work here were that Ikenna was plagued with delusional brilliance as he escaped familial expectations while Amadi sifted through an unknown country carrying the weight of a rumored family curse, and the myth that he was the reincarnation of his brother. 

This script may have been a winner on paper but story execution could have been better. It was eye-flickering slow with the majority of its running time submerged in grueling detective work that successively unearthed clues.  

Spurts of entertainment and the suggestion of romance penetrated the surface but for the most part the story didn’t gain momentum until the final minutes of the film when Amadi’s mission was achieved. 

Performances were believable as the movie featured a blend of Brazilian and African actors. OC Ukege has a way of wholeheartedly embracing his roles and the same efforts were expressed here. Character dialogue were mostly foreign languages translated through subtitles. 

“Shine Your Eyes” presented subtle intrigue and mythical appreciation told  against the backdrop of bustling city Sao Pauolo. Amadi was in search of his brother but climactically found himself. RECOMMEND