By Patience Chat Moses
Daniel Oriahi’s ‘The Weekend’ has earned over N8 million in ticket sales at the cinemas in the first week of its release in Nigeria. In an official statement issued by the film’s distributor, it said “Smashing records one week at a time, The Weekend had grossed over 8 million Naira at the box office. Thank you for your love and support towards this incredible movie. Don’t miss out – watch now in all cinemas.” Another feat achieved earlier this year shows that the film, produced by Uche Okocha of Trino Motion Pictures was selected for the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival in New York. The Tribeca Film Festival is a platform for independent filmmakers to boost creative expression and immersive entertainment. It supports emerging and established voices, discovers award-winning filmmakers, curates innovative and interactive experiences, and introduces new technology and ideas through panels, premieres, exhibitions, and live performances.
Also, the film has been officially selected to screen at the 68th edition of the BFI Film Festival in London which will be held from October 9th to October 20th, 2024. The BFI London Film Festival is an annual film festival held in London, England, in collaboration with the British Film Institute. The festival runs for two weeks every October. In 2016, the BFI estimated that around 240 feature films and 150 short films from more than 70 countries are screened at the festival each year.
The Plot
On the main story that surrounds this psychological thriller, an orphaned woman yearning for a sense of belonging, visits her fiancé’s seemingly perfect family, only to uncover their dark secrets. The story follows Nikiya played by Uzoamaka Aniunoh and Luc played by Bucci Franklin, who are happily engaged and in love. As an orphan, Nikiya presses on to see Luc’s family, which he refuses to visit for years. He only communicated with them via phone calls. Nikiya is desperate for a family connection as she continues pushing. Luc finally gives in to her pressure and they plan to attend his parents’ anniversary over the weekend. Nikiya is excited about the visit but unknown to her, Luc’s reluctance is as a result of a family secret she is not aware of. Would Nikiya survive the consequences of meeting her soon-to-be in-laws for the first time? Her hope rests with her fiancé, Luc, who has been distanced from his family for over a decade, causing hesitation in reconnecting. Soon, according to movie critics, she discovers that sometimes, it’s wiser to let sleeping dogs lie. Movie stars featured in the film are Uzoamaka Aniunoh, Bucci Franklin, Meg Otanwa, Keppy Ekpeyong Bassey, Gloria Anozie-Young and Damilola Ogunsi. Reflecting on “The Weekend” release in cinemas, Daniel Oriahi emphasized that the key to success lies in the alignment of preparation and opportunity. Oriahi has a knack for psychological thrillers, as evident in his 2015 Taxi Driver: Oke Ashewo and his 2018 film Sylvia and his comeback film, The Weekend. Daniel Oriahi, the director of The Weekend, revealed that his new film is one of the most substantial projects he has undertaken since his last major film almost 7 years ago. Oriahi’s journey in filmmaking began with his debut feature, Misfit, a psychological horror film created on a shoestring budget. Among numerous submissions, The Weekend stood out; making the final selections at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Notably, it was the only Nollywood film screened at the international festival this year. In an interview, Oriahi expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to create this new film, emphasizing that his past works offer a glimpse into the types of stories he is passionate about. “It’s a humble experience to have had the opportunity to make such a film. My filmography sheds light on the kind of film, I like to explore, like Sylvia. I haven’t made a film in a long time, I’ve been doing work but I haven’t done something on this scale for almost 7 years. So, coming back into the limelight, I’m humbled, I’m thrilled I’m excited that the film is getting the kind of reception that it is getting. I hope Nigerians love it,” he said.
He added that he has always envisioned himself as a filmmaker who tells stories that are globally accepted while still being enjoyed by local audiences. “I see myself as a filmmaker, who always wanted to make films that would travel, I didn’t want to be put in a box, “Oh you’re this kind of filmmaker.” I wanted to make films that could travel and still resonate with the Nigerian audience,” he added. Sharing her thoughts, Lead actress, Uzoamaka Aniunoh also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to work with Daniel Oriahi, revealing that it was an honour to land the role. Uzoamaka first came into the spotlight with her role as Cynthia in the MTV Shuga series. Since then, she has featured in several notable projects, including Sundance, award-winning film, Mami Wata, Amazon Prime movie, With Difficulty Comes Ease and the Showmax original series, Diiche. Speaking, at the premiere of The Weekend, Aniunoh shared that she had been looking forward to working with Daniel Oriahi and Trino Studios ever since she saw his film Sylvia. “I said yes to the project because it’s a fantastic story, I really loved the story. Secondly, I loved the people who were going to make the film. Trino Studios and Daniel Oriahi’s collaboration has just been a match made from heaven. I watched Sylvia, loved it very much and from then on, I really looked forward to working with Daniel. When I was invited to audition for it, I felt aesthetic, I felt privileged, it was an honour. Then when I was booked for the role, I was over the moon. I was just like, this was a dream come true for me. I wanted to work with them. Making The Weekend was amazing, I loved it,” she said.