Movie review: House of Ga'a

MOVIE REVIEW
HOUSE OF GA’A
DIRECTED BY BOLANLE AUSTEN-PETERS
WRITTEN BY TUNDE BABALOLA
DEBUTED GLOBALLY ON NETFLIX ON JULY 26,2024
DURATION: APPROXIMATELY 120 MINUTES

House of Ga’a is a powerful Nigerian historical epic set in the 18th century Oyo Empire. It follows Bashorun Ga’a, a once patriotic powerful military hero turned prime minister whose ambition to dominate the throne leads to treachery, war and family betrayal. The film boasts lavish sets, costumes top notch cinematography that transports viewers into a bygone era. Femi Branch’s portrayal of Ga’a is magnetic and charismatic, he perfectly embodies the complex arc from hero to tyrant. Mike Afolarin as his conflicted son “Oyemekun” provides the emotional anchor as he is the narrator of the film.The film quickly entered Netflix’s Top 10 for non-English films globally and consistently held the top spot in Nigeria during its first weeks.

      Although the film had various endearing reviews, there were a few shortcomings part of which is:

. Some cast members struggle with Yoruba resulting in some scenes that feel stilted and a detract from immersion
. Some effects like fire sequences and supernatural events come across as uneven, occasionally disrupting immersion.
. While Ga’a is deeply developed, some supporting characters like Zeinab or Oyemekun are underutilized or prematurely dropped, weakening narrative cohesion, especially towards the climax.

House of Ga’a is an impressive milestone for Nollywood- a richly detailed, visually dynamic saga anchored by outstanding lead performances. If you're drawn to historical epics with strong cultural flavour and potent central performances, it is worth streaming. I’ll rate the movie a solid 8/10.

                                             Tomisin💕