Movie Review: Tainted Hearts Written By Opeyemi Akintunde
Reviewed by Ajibare Abioye
“Tainted Hearts” is an impactful movie addressing a very pertinent matter in marriage. It is therefore enlightening, instructive and restorative in its content and presentation. The film captures the story of Jeffery and Isioma, a couple who are not communicating well enough to agree on vital elements of their union, which leads to a degeneration neither of them anticipated. www.gospelfilmnews.com
For the first time ever, I opine that a lengthy feature movie like this might be better split into parts, like a limited series. This is because “Tainted Hearts” has the feel of an episodical, with its slow pacing, multiple repetitive establishment shots, and its loopy background tune, especially in the first couple of scenes. In any case, I believe the plot should have been made tighter, with many scenes either removed or merged to make them more relevant.
The leads play their roles convincingly – Jeffery as a frustrated husband that tries to please his wife, and Isioma as the strong-willed, desperate wife that wants her husband to be the same. The importance of prayer and the truth is highlighted in this film because, though Jeffery swears never to be like his father, he actually becomes worse. I’ve heard from the TIMFA Christian University training that in marriage, communication is where it starts, money is where it continues and sex is where it ends. If Jeffery had communicated the pressure he was under at work, and Isi had consulted with her husband before adopting the medical routine for conception, they might have been able to reach a compromise that worked for both parties and would keep them walking in unity.
I consider it a trope in Nigerian Christian movies and it’s scary to think that it is a reflection of real life, that some believers have as their closest friends, as counselors, individuals that do not revere God. Actually, to me, Jeffery is at best, indifferent to God, though not opposed to Him. Therefore, I was surprised when he said he was a believer. 2 Corinthians 6:14 – 16 asks in five different ways why a believer would have that kind of relationship with an unbeliever. Nonetheless, it was good to see Jeffery at the end of the day setting things right with Damian.
Other things to note include a bit of the cinematography that felt off, with a few close ups awkwardly close, and the need for editors to adopt eliminating unnecessarily repetitive dialogue. Furthermore, I feel the vital Lizzy character should have been physically introduced earlier, rather than being an abstraction for the movie’s first hour. Likewise, I found it difficult to connect what initially looked like her shallow discernment of suitors to her later insight to the root of her brother’s marital problems.
Remarkably, “Tainted Hearts” brings to our screens one of the marital issues that we would barely get to know elsewhere. I commend the ingenuity of the producers and pray that this movie will bring healing to concerned marriages.
The link to the movie is https://youtu.be/mdMKlAXs9jo?si=pSouu-CqcyCX4Srj
Till the next review, stay blessed!🙏
Film Credits
TAINTED HEARTS
(August 1, 2024)
146 minutes
Deep Thoughts Films Production
Cast
Joshua Banjo as Jeffery
Chidinma Julius-Agoh as Isioma
Opeyemi Akintunde as Lizzy
Oluwabukola Hephzibah as Miss Jayeola
Emmanuel Oluwapelumi as Femi
Badmus Adewale David as Damian
Bosede Ojerinde as Mama
Crew
Director
Opeyemi Akintunde
Screenwriters
Opeyemi Akintunde and Bisola Akintomide
Cinematographer
Kuye Daniel
Editors
Oluwaseun Ogunjobi and Whitestone Loknan Daniel