.Ramsey, Rita, DKD, IB tour cinemas
The much anticipated movie, 76, the first Nollywood film to get an international sales and distribution deal, is out with a bang in cinemas and in its second week since its release.
It is still topping the charts and selling out audiences. People waiting till weekends to watch the film have been left dissapointed as many arrived cinemas to find the movie completely sold out.
Some say it is the quality of the film that is generating the buzz as it has left audiences wowed by the high production standards it has set. Others say it is the acting, as Rita Dominic and Ramsey Nouah put up such stellar performances that they have not only given their fans another reason to celebrate them, they have won over a new legion of movie enthusiasts.
Many who never watched Nigerian films before, have been converted after watching 76. It is not the usual comedy or Nollywood film but it has all the moments of laughter, action, pain, tears and downright edge of your seat excitement all wrapped into one. No matter the theory on the success of 76, what is clear though is that its impressive numbers can not be removed from the commitment the cast and the crew are showing to the film.
It’s Director, Izu Ojukwu, described as the “Steven Spielberg” of Nigerian cinema, said, “I have done my part. Now it’s time for audiences to do theirs and assess if we did our part well. Initial responses are encouraging I must say. Going on tour has helped me see where next I should take my art of filmmaking.”
On the next steps, the Executive Producer of the movie, Tonye T.J.T Princewill said that “having been recognised by Hollywood, Toronto and London, we thought that being recognised back home may be asking too much. But what we are seeing here is simply mind blowing. Selling out shows is one thing but selling them out when they are overlapping, I have never seen done before. There is no place like home. None.”
