Postcards is nollywood-bollywood movie. It is an issue-based comic movie diced into six episodes focusing on parenthood, manhood, Japa (migration) narrative, individual choices and consequences, love, marriage, relationships, and cultural barriers. Postcards opens up various aspects of familyhood: expectations, changes, and the essence of team spirit. It also shines light on failings, fears, and human frailties. Postcards is simply a family comic movie where individuals see the importance of their roles in each other’s lives.
Storyline
Aunty Bunmi and her son, Yemi, hold the centre of Postcards as their lifestyles and decisions give rise to other characters and the story itself. Aunty Bunmi decides to live life to the fullest while Yemi decides to kick-start the manhood phase of his life, neglecting his mother in the process. Postcards takes another turn when both mother and child go to India for different reasons unbeknownst to each other. Their presence in India begins to unravel the issues and intricacies of interracial relationships and essence of family connectedness. In India, Uncle Olumide, an unfeeling business guru who also happens to be Aunty Bunmi’s elder brother, maintains his unfeeling and distant relationship with his workers and his only family member, Aunty Bunmi, while his wealth does the errands.
Yemi, on the other hand, begins to experience India as a newcomer, including the ugly side: racism. Aunty Bunmi fights fibroids while being a source of motivation and moral support for Dr. Kapoor’s quest. Dr. Siddarth Kapoor and his wife Zainab, a Nigerian, come into the scene as a thriving couple with much love and commitment to themselves and their extended family. But here is the twist: Dr. Kapoor seeks to go back on a long-time decision while Uncle Olumide discovers the love of his life in a dire state. Who wins? What is going to change?
Characterization/Cast
Postcards features Harshit Verma, Lekha Prajapati, Shree Upadhyaya, Karan Thakur, Rajneesh Duggal, Sola Sobowale, Tobi Bakre, Rajniesh Duggall, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Rahama Sadau, Nancy Isime and was produced by Hamisha Daryani Ahuja.
The choice of cast and action delivery for each character is awesome. Sola Sobowale leaves no stone unturned, dishing out snippets of action and parlance of Nigerian and African culture. The stoic side of Mofe Damijo is explored; the need for physical fight between Mofe Damijo and Late Rio Kapadia (May His Soul Rest in Peace) seems unnecessary and follows a predictable trend.
Tobi Bakre embodies Yemi’s character, leaving his known rogue roles as in Brotherhood and Gangs of Lagos. Though Yemi’s story trail is not solid and is predictable, the resolution of conflicts rests on the continuity of family values and responsibilities which is eventually committed to Yemi. Isioma’s acting skills are not fully deployed; her dialogues and actions are too simple and lacking in zeal, especially when action is expected the most. Rahama Sadau delivers exceptionally, speaking Hindi like Hausa; it’s a job well done. The connection between Rahama Sadau and Rajneish Duggall is undeniable; kudos to Rajneish Duggall. The cast and acting are top-notch, enjoyable to watch!
Setting/Embellishment
For a movie like Postcards, the settings, props, and costumes cannot afford to be less represented because of the tendency to devalue the reality of the movie. Set in Lagos, Nigeria, and India, the representation and acquisition of both cultural worlds by the characters set the tone for Postcards as an interracial cinematic production.
Cinematography
The cinematic production is impeccable, revealing the glitz and glamour of Lagos party, Lagos’s hustle and bustle and India’s culture of family and food. Indeed, the lenses did not fail to give details to the viewer.
Dialogue/Language
The conversations focus on the issue-based matters Postcards seeks to address. And being an interracial cultural production, Hindi, English, Yoruba, and Pidgin are the highlights of the languages Postcards explores.
Postcards presents a compelling narrative that delves into various aspects of family dynamics, cultural differences, and personal growth. With a stellar cast, intricate storyline, and vibrant cinematography, the film offers both entertainment and thought-provoking insights into the complexities of relationships.