NIGERIAN FILM ’76 LEADS CITY TO CITY PROGRAMME

                              Hollywood has shown the world of their interpretation of the city of Lagos in the country of Nigeria and it has not always been too positive.  This year at the Toronto International Film Festival, the City to City programme focussed on Lagos and it has made an impact so far to the audience in this festival and the city of Toronto.  Director Izu Ojukwu brings you a film that takes a page out of Nigeria’s history in such a pivotal time and politcal unrest.  ’76 is a film that focuses on the backdrop of the military coup against the government of General Murtala Mohammed.  Rita Dominic plays the pregnant wife, Suzie, of Captain Joseph Dewa, played by Ramsey Nouah, who is recruited by rebellious soldiers to form this plot against General Murtala Mohammed.  Joseph ends up resisting them and then get put in jail which takes him away from both his family and his military colleagues.

            There was a lot that was put in into this film that you would have not realized when watching the film.  Director Izu Ojukwu had to make this period of time in Nigerian history as realistic as possible to capture the audience.  When we interviewed star actor Ramsey Nouah he told us of the military training that had to take place so he would be able to get into character along with his counterpart Chidi Mokeme.  Izu Ojukwu also had to get the rights to film in the bases of Nigeria which was difficult but the persistent director ended up being the first one to ever shoot in these confines.  The conditions were not favourable according to the cast and crew of ’76 but this may have given it the edge and the ruggedness that it may have felt like in this period of time.  Futhermore, ’76 was shot on film and even though it had to be produced way far from the shooting locations, the audience will truly get go back in time.