Echoes of #EndSARS, ‘Collision Course’, is set for Netflix premiere

I registered for one of many foremost movie festivals in Africa, the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF), to have fun its tenth pageant anniversary.

I used to be glad to obtain a ‘Particular Invitation’ to see the pageant’s closing movie, ‘Collision Course,’ on the Landmark Occasion Centre, Victoria Island Lagos State.

The movie was directed by a lawyer turned theatre and film guru, Bolanle Austen-Peters (BAP), and produced by Joseph Umoibom and James Amuta.

BAP, because the movie director is fondly referred to as, was wearing a crimson gown and a well-groomed coiffure, gave a rundown of what to anticipate and kindly suggested the viewers to calm down and benefit from the surprising.

I’ve to confess that I’m slightly biased relating to the movie ‘Collision Course’ as a result of it touched on two nerves that induced me to turn into agitated.

Firstly, I’m a professionally skilled actor/director, in addition to a skilled Supernumerary Police Officer. So, the presentation was anticipated, however in all honesty, it was the anticipation of what our sister lawyer turned film director needed to supply.

No pun meant.

Inspiration

‘Collision Course’ was impressed by the #Endsars demonstration of October 20, 2020, which shook the Nigerian material.

The aim of the protest was to petition the authorities about alleged heinous crimes and extrajudicial killings perpetrated by the Particular Anti Theft Squad (SARS), a unit of the Nigerian Police accountable for detecting and investigating, stopping, and stamping out armed theft and associated crimes.

The film has a foremost plot and a number of other subplots that intertwine to offer us a potpourri or variants of life.

The wealthy and the poor, the Authorities Reserved and Revered Space, and The Authorities Rejected Space, battle of privileged dad and mom and the perpetual battle with their misunderstood youngsters.

Others are the federal government and the ruled, and naturally, the police and the civilian populace as personified by Corporal Magnus and Mide Johnson performed by Daniel Etim Effiong, who performed the function of the abroad skilled lawyer turned struggling musician and his insecure spouse wannabe pregnant girlfriend, Hannah, performed by Large Brothers’ Bamike ‘BamBam’ Adenibuyon.

Temi had an encounter with TARS males (for the movie, SARS was renamed TARS) that left a perpetual scar on him and affected his respect for the boys in black.

He had seen firsthand how extrajudicial killings are carried out and the way harmless people are wasted for failing to pay their manner out of the clutches of TARS troops who had scented and tasted blood.

This incidence served as a preface to the movie, and it’s from this intro that the remainder of the movie takes form.

Plot

The movie begins with the attractive Chioma Akpotha, who performs Corporal Magnus’ spouse, performed by Kelechi Udegbe (in case you didn’t know, Udegbe means “sound of a gun” in Igbo), scolding her husband for not taking good care of the household and threatening to depart her matrimonial residence for her father’s residence together with her youngsters.

He assures her that he’ll be part of TARS and earn a living, however his spouse mocks him, claiming he’s cowardly and incapable of killing a cockroach.

Now, what I like concerning the opening sequence, which was comparatively captured by the author, James Amuta, and executed by the director, is the truth that stares us within the face.

Just like the actors portrayed, the police, who’re grossly underfunded and poorly cared for, have a remuneration which isn’t commensurate with the truth on the bottom.

I’ll go away what I don’t like for now until later. Corporal Magnus rides to work on a seized bike.

He had a colleague who, as one other rank police officer, was additionally coping with challenges.

They lament their occupational hazards, and their dialog results in Magnus deciding to go to the TARS Commander, performed by Greg Ojefua.

The Commander, or BOSS, as he prefers to be referred to, is a quintessential instance of a foul apple in any organisation, be it police, navy, or civil service, to not point out the personal sector.

A case of utilising what it’s a must to get what you want, regardless of whose ox is gored. The Boss informs him that his software to be transferred to TARS is full however that to display his dedication to the system, his (Magnus) spouse should come to gather the switch sign from the Boss.

After all, that gesture can have far-reaching repercussions for everybody concerned. Whereas at work, Corporal Magnus receives a name from his spouse informing him that she has carried out her menace of shifting out of their matrimonial residence and into her dad and mom’ residence.

This piece of stories hurts Corporal Magnus as he begins to forcefully accumulate stipends from motorists, an act that, earlier than receiving the telephone name, was a case of the motorists not being cooperative or beneficiant, in his opinion.

One of many few vehicles he stopped for the ‘standard’ was sadly pushed by Johnson, who was already upset over being cheated by a membership supervisor who didn’t assume he had what it took to be a stylish and youth-centric dance ground musical artist, his father for not understanding his ardour lies in music. Not legislation practises, and naturally, the ever-recurring picture of the executed civilians by the lagoon by TARS group members.

ALSO READ: #EndSARS panel summons police inspector over death of octogenarian in custody

The double-nuzzled shotgun was certain to go off, shattering the fragile and glass-like stillness in quite a few instructions.

Refusing to pay the ‘bribe,’ Johnson asks his girlfriend and their buddy to drive him residence in a employed taxi whereas he’s held hostage on a drive.

It’s throughout this compelled drive that the policeman and civilians realise that they’re each victims of evil society.

On this society, the higher echelon of society cares much less concerning the much less lucky a part of society.

On this society, a police has no insurance coverage and should pay for his accidents.

It’s spent earlier than it reaches the beneficiary’s account, leading to a disastrous society wherein 10 per cent of the inhabitants controls 90 per cent of the commonwealth of a folks.

The relative serenity and a few worth-friendly decision are shattered by the thunderous sound of a recoiled chamber and the wayward life arm that has left its now revolving shell casing into Johnson’s torso.

In a panic, Corporal Magnus calls The Boss, who units up an armed theft with a gun gone the improper state of affairs, whereas Bambam, who’s pregnant, stories to the DPO, performed by Norbert Younger, together with her buddy Nneka, performed by Ade Laoye.

The DPO dispatches his officers to the crime scene, the place Corporal Magnus is caught. That is undoubtedly a tragic story, however it’s a look into the ever-revolving black door that exposes and divulges the unlucky conditions that abound in our society and past.

A 12 months or so in the past, George Floyd was murdered in America primarily due to the color of his pores and skin.

An Indian Hindu household was apprehended in England for masterminding the grotesque homicide of their solely daughter as a result of she needed to marry somebody who was not acceptable to their household, and xenophobic assaults in South Africa are nonetheless contemporary in our minds.

Sadly, it’s our tradition, and each society has its peculiarities.

Accolades

I applaud Austen-Peters for broadening the scope of the subject of police brutality. A number of reveals and movies would linger on how the police did this or that with out delving into the causes of such acts, but we can’t state that underfunding is an excuse for such behaviour.

We will’t stress the significance of police welfare sufficient. These women and men have wants, in addition to households and houses to look after.

The federal government should be sure that an enabling setting and stools are available and never out of attain of non-gazetted individuals.

These non-commissioned officers should not compelled to sit down and watch junior colleagues with comparable attributes, {qualifications}, and items of coaching climb the promotion ladder at their expense.

Earlier than I begin sounding like an armchair critic, let me say that I love and applaud the casting. Kelechi Udegbe’s portrayal of the function was proper on, and it’s no shock that he carted residence the pageant’s (AFRIFF) most coveted prize, ‘Greatest Male Actor.’

Apart from the casting, accolades must also be given to the situation supervisor, technical group, and set and property crew.

Though the sound wasn’t emanating from there, I didn’t should squint or get near the cyclorama to listen to the voices. The digicam work was likewise wonderful, and I have to respect BAP for these facets.

Reservations

My concern, alternatively, is with two items: the Costume and Continuity departments.

When commencing on a mission of this magnitude, every group should totally examine their respective departments.

The police uniforms had been woefully inadequate by way of kind, presentation, and look.

If we had chosen to put on any adornment as an alternative of the eagle, elephant, and two crossed batons, I may have missed the extreme error.

However, although it is a inventive course of, as Aristotle acknowledged, “Artwork is a Collaborative course of,” the elephant, eagle, and two crossed batons symbolise the Nigerian Police.

The DPO’s uniform, worn by Norbert Younger, ought to have been tucked in as a result of it lacked the 2 backside pockets. Magnus ought to have solely two buttons on his shirt as a Corporal, and his title and file quantity ought to be written on his clothes.

All navy and paramilitary crests or cap badges are worn to the left in Nigeria, with the cap twisted to the correct.

Any non-civilian personnel seeing Corporal Magnus sporting the hat bent to the left can have a match, simply as I did. I suppose the message is obvious: his dealing with of the firearm, certainly the rifle dealing with, reekerance.

BamBam’s seat belt was ceaselessly on and off throughout their journey from the Island to the Mainland, which the script supervisor/editor ought to have seen.

This ought to be double-checked as a result of such a evident continuity challenge in such an enormous film was embarrassing.

Earlier than I overlook, newly lifeless our bodies are likely to sink and solely rise as soon as rigour mortis units in and the first stage of inside organ and tissue breakdown begins.

Law enforcement officials and medical pathologists ought to be contacted earlier than continuing with any police-related endeavour; I didn’t even see a Nigerian flag.

Bimbo Manuel, Kenneth Okonkwo, and different actors who demonstrated genius should be talked about and counseled.

Thanks, BAP, for a priceless piece of labor; I immensely loved myself and appeared ahead to knocking in your door once more to see one other masterpiece. Collision Course will premiere on Netflix on September 2, 2022.

***Iheuwa, an actor-director & supernumerary police officer, writes from Lagos.***