Breath of Life

2023

Action / Drama

5
IMDb Rating 6.6/10 10 434 434

Plot summary

Timi, a gifted clergyman turns into an old lonely curmudgeon when his family is tragically taken from him. Until Elijah, a humble man with big dreams of becoming a priest, comes into his life. Through Elijah, Timi not only learns to live again, but also realizes purpose for all his gifts and wealth.

Director

Bodunrin Sasore Photo
Bodunrin Sasore

Top cast

Wale Ojo Photo
Wale Ojo as Timi
Eku Edewor Photo
Eku Edewor as Bridget
Ashionye Michelle Raccah Photo
Ashionye Michelle Raccah as Mrs. Okonkwo
Genoveva Umeh Photo
Genoveva Umeh as Anna
720p.WEB 1080p.WEB
1.03 GB
1280*694
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us   es   fr   pt  
24 fps
1 hr 54 min
Seeds 5
2.11 GB
1920*1040
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us   es   fr   pt  
24 fps
1 hr 54 min
Seeds 9

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by kadiri_alex 8 / 10

Fairly Decent Nigerian Masterpiece

So, I'm not a big fan of Nollywood movies (since most of them are overhyped nonsense or complete balderdash) and I rarely ever watch one unless it gets enough buzz to catch my attention. A few have recently, like Gangs of Lagos, Anikulapo etc. This one did too, after it won at the AMVCA. After seeing a few comments admitting it was much better than Tribe of Judah, I decided I was going to see it and judge for myself (especially since I absolutely DNFed TOJ for the simple fact that it was boring, overhyped, both poorly acted and overacted etc).Now, from the first few scenes of this movie, I already could tell I liked it better than any Nigerian movie I'd ever seen. The picture quality was sharp. The plot seemed unique (compared to other Nollywood titles anyway). Some of the acting was impressive. And the general tone of the movie, together with the voice over-which although could've been better-was just something out of the usual. After only three or four scenes, by Nigerian standards, I knew I was watching something close to a Nigerian masterpiece.Having said all of that, I must add that I in no way thought this movie perfect. There definitely were some cringe moments, some second-rate acting, and some directing issues. To begin with, I absolutely did not like the CGI. I mean, who even uses CGI for things like a barrel fire or burning a car or shooting a person? Everytime I saw a fire, it annoyed me. The CGI wound and blood from the headshot was laughable at best. The only more laughable thing than the CGI was the scene with the man being riddled with bullets from a fusillade. The man looked like a dancing puppet the whole time, flapping his flaccid wrists and fingers like that.As for the acting, I must say I believe we can do better. Some of it was stilted, even from the leads e.g scene where Timi walks in on Elijah and the projector and (very awkwardly) wastes no time breaking down in tears even after nearly 50yrs of mourning. Only one that seemed faultless was the girl's character and maybe her father's.Also, as a writer, I just couldn't bring myself to accept some of the dialogue, especially in the scene where Elijah and his woman have their big fight. It just didn't flow and was nowhere near seamless. Someone with less savvy might point to the actors but I can always tell when the fault is from the writing. The dialogue just wasn't fluid. The individual parts didn't connect and it made everything feel both forced and disjointed.Overall, while I thought this movie was great (again, by Nigerian standards), while I did come away reasonably entertained, I must say there definitely is plenty room for improvement.
Reviewed by Abdulxoxo 6 / 10

Visually Stunning, But Overstretched

Breath of Life had the potential to be something truly gripping, especially given its stunning cinematography and solid production value. From the moment the prologue kicks in, I was impressed by the care taken to set the mood. The visuals are definitely a highlight of the film. Nollywood has been stepping up its game in terms of technical aspects, and Breath of Life is no exception. The use of lighting, camera work, and scenery to evoke emotion is top-notch. You can tell the crew behind the scenes knew how to elevate the film's aesthetic appeal, and for that, it deserves credit.However, as visually engaging as it is, the movie starts to lose me with its narrative choices. At over two hours, Breath of Life feels like it's trying to say too much while also not saying enough. The pacing drags in certain areas, particularly because the film spends too much time focused on irrelevances, it started to feel a bit heavy-handed, especially as it kept circling back to faith-based dialogues and preachy moments.Another challenge I had with the film was its two unfocused plotlines. There are moments where you're not quite sure where the story is heading. One minute, it's delving into family drama, and the next, it's shifting gears into romance or faith-based introspection. It felt like the writers couldn't quite decide what story they wanted to tell. The result is a movie that feels more scattered than it should, which takes away from the overall impact.Speaking of the drama, I have to say it's a little too over-the-top at times. I understand that a certain level of emotion is necessary to drive a story forward, but Breath of Life crosses the line into melodrama a few too many times for my taste. There are points where the intensity of the performances feels more like a soap opera than a film meant to be taken seriously.Then there's the issue of the characters. While some are tolerable, the girlfriend character is downright irritating. Her scenes are meant to add tension and conflict, but instead, I found myself rolling my eyes. She's written in such a way that you can't help but feel frustrated by her presence, and not in the way that's intentional or effective. It feels more like a missed opportunity to flesh out her role in a meaningful way.Despite its narrative and character flaws, there are aspects of Breath of Life that deserve recognition. The prologue is one of the better parts of the film, offering a strong setup that draws you in early on. The visuals and production value certainly make it more enjoyable than it could have been, and there are moments where the film truly feels alive - if only it had maintained that energy throughout.In the end, Breath of Life is a mixed experience. The technical execution is impressive, and the opening moments show promise, but the overly long runtime, unfocused plotlines, and overly dramatic performances pull it down. It's not a bad film by any means, but it could have been so much more with tighter storytelling and less melodrama. If you're into beautifully shot Nollywood films, it's worth a watch; but manage your expectations.
Reviewed by khuklux 6 / 10

Overhyped and Disjointed

I was a bit lost while watching this movie. The film's setup begins in the United States, but the whole story is based in Nigeria. I'll generalize this review to touch on various aspects.The cinematography and costumes are on point, accurately reflecting the culture and era of 20th-century Nigeria. However, the furniture seemed off to me, as they mostly portrayed the early 21st century, which felt inconsistent with the setting.The storyline started off well, where I expected more action from the revenge of a one-man army. Unfortunately, it soon switched to a drama focusing on several subplots: building a good connection with a broken man, evangelism, a poor boy falling in love with a rich girl, and a recovered broken man making humane sacrifices he wouldn't have done before. This shift in the narrative felt jarring and detracted from the initial excitement.In all, the movie is hyped. To me, it was overhyped in Liberia, and I may have expected too much. I would have given it a 4/10, but for the sake of maintaining a higher score for an African movie, I'm biased to give it a 6/10.
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