25/12/2023
A review on the new Nupe series, CELE.
Cele is a Nupe series, with its first few scenes showcasing the industrious nature and agricultural landscape of Nupe land. The movie highlights the life of an aspiring singer who is so immersed in his passion for music that he sees everything else as a distraction. However, his attitude toward music has birthed rumors around town that he is mentally unstable, with other sub-themes on the typical development of girls in rural communities.
First, I commend the entire team for a job well done, particularly the director for going beyond the usual Nupe home video narrative and significantly improving the interpretation of roles by some of the talents. You can see the seriousness in most of them, yet a lot needs to be done.
Having seen the series over four times, my first observation is that either there was no script at all, the scripting was faulty, or there were issues of role internalizing, as most of the talents went through their roles without necessarily internalizing the script. I understand that we are dealing with people of different levels, but the role of scripting cannot be overemphasized. Every good movie requires not just a beautiful story but also a well-scripted, well-internalized, and well-interpreted believable story. One could see the overzealousness of some talents and some unmatched dialogue.
I want to ask one question, why the name CELE and what is the rational behind using English in the music? I am curious.
Secondly, from the second scene of the series, the producer tilted the audience's mind toward industrialization, agriculture, and collectivism as some attributes of Nupe communities. Ordinarily, one would expect dialogue for a scene of four to six minutes; instead, the whole scene was without dialogue, and the sounds didn't convey a message related to the scene. Meanwhile, the talents were seen conversing inaudibly. In the screen, showing is as important as telling.
In the next scene where young ladies were having conversations about saving money to acquire goods or preparing for marriage, it is observed that the talents do not react to the conversation being made. Talents should know that the camera is on them and should react naturally as they converse. There is absolutely no way a conversation is ongoing, and those involved do not use facial gestures or body movements. When two or more people engage in conversation, interjections and interruptions are often expected, either refuting, objecting, or agreeing to what is being said. Instead, you can see talents waiting for the other to finish completely before responding, and facial expression techniques were almost not utilized at all.
The 6th scene where Ndagi’s mother went to caution him on his behavior is so unreal. We all know no African mother is patient enough to say salam three times before going into a misbehaving son’s room. Our mothers would barge in with their voices atop and abuses. Ndagi’s mother had to say salam several times before the son, who had earphones on, could respond. It's so unreal.
Some of the dialogues were obviously out of line and out of place for the conversations. What is the connection between earphones and blood money?
The last scene I would be talking about is the 7th, where Ndagi walked into the compound past his father, who was right in front of him performing ablution without noticing the presence. Let’s assume the father was by the side; that would have been believable. No African father would coldly speak to a misbehaving child. There was a need for that authoritativeness at that moment. Ndagi, in shock of being tapped, responded, ‘I thought it was a kidnapper behind me’; that was totally off-putting.
Film is about interpretation and representation. When talents can deliver their roles in a manner that the audience is immersed in the story, forgetting the real world, that is what makes a great movie. There should be originality.
The CAMERA and the handling were a job well done; there were several creative dolly movements that added beauty to the serenity and landscapes. I noticed the use of multiple cameras as well.
Talking about setting and location, one must give the team applause. The environment was so original, starting from the farms, the business environment, the riverside. I am most amazed at scenes that showed the houses and the piles of dirty clothes hanging on them.
The COSTUMES were good; however, Ndagi’s should have shown more of him copying a musician. As part of continuity, his costume should have shown something that reflects his passion for music, like banners of different or a particular musician.
SOUND As much as the producer is a musician, it is important to know that the series is not a music video and should not be overtaken by musical sounds. There were uses of familiar sounds (instrumental); I hope we understand the rules of copyright.
In conclusion, while "Cele" displays commendable efforts in capturing the essence of Nupe culture, it underscores the pressing need for heightened seriousness in story and screenwriting. The inconsistencies observed in scripting and the apparent lack of synergy among talents reflect the importance of a unified vision in the production process.
Having viewed the series multiple times, there are evident issues of incoherency in the script if there is any that shows the role of every one of the team members. I honestly think the overzealous performances, and mismatched dialogue compromised the overall quality of the production. This did not only hinder the immersion of the audience in the narrative but also raises concerns about the level of commitment and professionalism within the team.
Furthermore, the terrible and subpar subtitling throughout the movie does not only put one off but leaves one with anger even after watching. I was in pain because it showed that both the director and producer did not go through the work after the post production process. This emphasizes the importance of meticulous attention to detail in post-production. The producers and directors should understand that they are important in all aspects of the production from pre to post and till distribution stage. Clarity in communication is paramount, and the lapses in subtitling detract from the intended message of the scenes, hindering the audience's full engagement.
In urging the producers and director to be original, it is crucial to highlight that the success of any film lies in its ability to transport the audience into the world it portrays. "Cele" has the potential to be a groundbreaking series, but it requires a more focused and collaborative approach. Originality, both in storytelling and ex*****on, is paramount to creating a lasting impact.
To truly elevate the quality of Nupe home videos, a concerted effort is needed from the entire production team. The filmmakers must prioritize a well-crafted script, seamless coordination among talents, and meticulous attention to detail in every aspect, including subtitling. This call for improvement aims to not only enhance the viewing experience but also to elevate "Cele" to a standard that resonates with a wider audience and contributes positively to the portrayal of Nupe culture in the cinematic landscape.
Cele is a series that has just started, and as such, there are restrictions to my review, especially on the development of the story. Otherwise, one would be forced to ask the main theme of that particular episode. Overall, the series is one I would recommend to people to watch to see a change in the narrative of Nupe home videos.
Maimunat Sheshi Kolo
