Movie Review – Monica

Production-wise, the movie delivers what it needs to. It relies heavily on its story, and that is where its strength lies.

This movie broke me.

And not just because it reflects the reality of many Adas in Igboland. Young women, who are still trying to find their footing in life, are often forced to sacrifice everything short of their lives for their younger siblings—all to cover up for inept and irresponsible parents like the ones in this movie. I felt so sorry for all the real-life Monicas I know.

They will come online to brag: “I started hustling at 10.” “I saw myself through school.”

Your parents failed you, mehn! Why are you fending for your entire family at 18? Why are you dropping out of school for your siblings?

And what’s even sadder? The people these Adas sacrifice for are often the most ungrateful.

Let me backtrack…

Monica’s Plot

Monica is a movie produced by Uche Montana, who saw serious shege in this film simply because she is the first daughter, the Ada. But you will agree with me that even extreme sapa did not diminish her beauty one bit.

She plays the titular character, the first daughter in an impoverished Igbo family. She has an ungrateful younger brother, a husband-stealing sister, a manipulative and backstabbing mother, and a weak-willed father who has no balls to confront his insane wife.

Even a portrait would have been more useful than that man.

Shey you get?

This movie made me angry in almost every scene. From childhood, Monica had to sacrifice everything for her siblings. She wasn’t allowed to go to school. She hawked and took on every odd job she could find. She sacrificed her meals, her well-being, and eventually even her fiancé to her sister because her mother decided he was too poor and not good enough.

The Painful Reality of Being “The Ada”

Meanwhile, Monica looked haggard, hungry, and depressed most of the time while her family practically lived off her. Strangers showed her more kindness than the people to whom she gave everything.

She almost sacrificed her life for that family.

And not once did they say thank you.

That scene where Monica’s mother said, “Did anybody tell you to carry family problems on your head?” got me so mad. See ehn, in this life, people will use you mercilessly if you keep pouring yourself out. Before they use you, abeg use your sense.

The most painful part is that this movie is based on someone’s real life, and it mirrors the reality of many firstborn daughters in Igboland. What a culture!

Monica’s Family Needs Jail, Not Therapy

Honestly, Monica’s mother is one of the worst mothers I’ve ever seen on screen. Mother of the year indeed! If I ever make a thread of the worst mothers on TV, she will easily be in the top three. Talk about a destiny-sucking witch! That woman blocked almost every good opportunity Monica had. She was the real enemy of progress.

And the useless father just sat there like a log of wood, saying nothing in the name of “keeping the peace.” He couldn’t even defend his own daughter when it mattered most. Head of family indeed.

Production-wise, the movie delivers what it needs to. It relies heavily on its story, and that is where its strength lies. It’s not overly dramatic; it simply strings together many painful realities into one story. Monica gave everything she had, and still ended up with nothing but heartbreak from the people who were supposed to protect her.

Meanwhile, people are dragging Pascal (John Ekanem), the stupid fiancé, on TikTok, and I am absolutely living for the drama.

7 stars.