In the last few scenes of Breath of Life, you almost feel your skin tingling, and hairs stand on end as the depth of the final sacrifice sinks in.
For lovers of slow-paced movies that do more than incite raging adrenaline for the duration of the runtime only, Breath of Life prods at the borders of your psyche, bringing to life that which animates all mankind, that which mostly slumbers in most.
Synopsis
An unnaturally gifted man climbs to the pinnacle of human achievement on earth, reaching the zenith of his physical and intellectual ability.
After everything comes crashing down, including his faith in the One who bestowed on him such extraordinary gifts, fate brings into his life a devout, young Christian who is destined to labor under his now-hard fists and endure the stern whips of his keen mind in an unconventional, yet ultimately rewarding mentorship.
Themes
Some of the major themes in Breath of Life are:
Faith
Piety and faith in God are the two most prominent themes in Breath of Life. It’s a tale of faith lost and faith found in the most profound circumstance.
It tells of faith and piety, not merely as a show of faux, hypocritical religiosity as is typified in many modern Christians, but as a real thing that affects our relationships and the hand of fate in our lives.
You don’t have to be a devout Christian for the significance of the faith-based elements of the story to sink in, and here’s an area where the movie stands out.
Romance
The romance between Elija and Anna is inevitable, and even a baby would see it coming from a mile off.
The early stages of their budding love seem somewhat rushed, and it’s only much later in the movie that the pace becomes more natural and measured.
Wealth and Influence
It’s pretty interesting to contrast the two parallel elements of worldly affluence and humble, steadfast faith.
Breath of Life reminds us that while we are urged to seek the riches of the Kingdom first over earthly riches and standing, the latter remains crucial to the success of the former, especially regarding Ministry.
Acting and Script
Like many Nollywood scripts, this one is heavily flawed. The result is an uneven pacing of plot proceedings for the first half of the movie.
Still, the acting makes up for anything lacking in the script, with Wale Ojo’s depiction of Reverend Timi being the highlight.
Wale Ojo perfectly plays the role of the classic, genius, post-colonial relic African schooled in British ways, with a penchant for random outbursts. His scenes were particularly amusing, reminiscent of my own late father’s inclination to blend archaic Yoruba with perfect Queen’s English when scolding the perceived folly of youth.
Genoveva Umeh’s worldly-wise ways perfectly balance out Chimezie Imo’s frail but innocently passionate demeanor, and their romance is genuinely intriguing to watch once you get over how unconvincingly quickly it starts. She typifies the new generation of female Nollywood actors whose performances as supporting actors rival that of the main character.
The rest of the cast doesn’t get a terrible amount of screen time, but I didn’t mind it, as the three main characters did more than enough to occupy the attention.
Picture
It’s quite refreshing to see the rustic charm of Ibadan increasingly being adopted by Nollywood movie producers, who are beginning to see that the future of the motion picture industry lies further and further away from the bright lights of the world’s most populous black city, Lagos.
Perhaps, in the future, as the industry grows, movie budgets increase, and, of course, the nation’s much-maligned security issues decrease, we can look forward to movies set in arguably the most naturally beautiful region of the country—the North.
Final Thoughts
Breath of Life is an aptly named Nollywood banger that’s sure to draw goosebumps from your skin in its God-awe-inspiring show of faith and love.
While it’s undoubtedly flawed, its pros more than makeup for its shortcomings. If you’re a God-lover or simply a lover of heartfelt love stories, Breath of Life is a must-watch.
