Reviewed by Ajibare Abioye
Hey folks! You’re welcome to the review of a Christian short film After One. I came across its trailer some weeks ago and I was captivated by its poster, the theme I perceived it would consider, its tone, and the casting of Jane, played by Olakunmi Salako, who perfectly looked the part of a nursing mother. Having seen her feature in movies like The Boomerang (2018) and Prime Suspect (2020), her selection in After One, for me, suggested excellence and great attention to detail. Right then in my heart, I was inspired to begin reviewing short films on a consistent basis; such was the impact the trailer had on me.
Ajibare Abioye
After One was released on YouTube on March 26, 2021, from the partnership between KinsMan Media and Preciouscrown Production. The story was written by Lydia Emmanuel, directed by Ayobola Eniola and produced by Ololade Okedare and Fiyinfolu CP Okedare.
This short film addresses the challenges new mothers face after childbirth, a situation vividly portrayed through earnest cinematography that details every aspect of the matter. Another strength of After One is the excellent performance of the cast. The protagonist, Jane, was played by Olakunmi Salako, who has always seemed to me like a natural; she always conveys her emotions convincingly to the audience. You would care about her Jane character; we feel what she feels, we can relate to it, or at least, we want to imagine what she is going through. Every other person played their roles with ease and propriety: Fiyinfolu CP Okedare as John, Sade Aina as Jane’s mother-in-law; Adedamola Salako and Seun Adejumobi as John’s friends and Jane’s friends all reflected different personalities; they were very good. They all featured in my favourite scene – that naming ceremony scene – that had good background music and nice steadicam movements.
After One may be a short film but it brings to our screens a matter I find it hard to recollect any other Christian movie has tackled. It chronicles the struggles modern age new mothers have with their identity, family customs and social constructs. It’s a corrective movie that urges men to move beyond societal stereotypes and wrong mindsets that limit them from loving their wives as Christ loves the church. After One is also well-structured in terms of its mood and tone, no better signified than by the appropriate background tunes which conveyed the emotions the director wanted in each scene.
Ahead of subsequent productions, I would like the producing ministries to look into achieving consistency in the subtitle format, the subtitling itself, colour grading and camera focus. Also, the dressing of characters should be given more attention and be better coordinated. All in all, After One is a wonderful Christian movie and in practical terms for a new father, God is saying: “Do not regard the feeding of your baby as the mother’s concern alone; chip in. The baby’s welfare is not the mother’s business alone; never leave it to her to do”.
Alright, we’ve come to the end of this review. Have you seen it? What did you think about it? What’s your take home from After One? Please let me know your thoughts in the comments section below.
You can watch the movie below: