'76 (film)

'76

Teaser poster
Directed by Izu Ojukwu
Produced by Adonaijah Owiriwa
Izu Ojukwu
Screenplay by Emmanuel Okomanyi
Starring
Cinematography Yinka Edward
Edited by Emeka Ojukwu
Production
company
Adonis Productions
Princewill's Trust
Country Nigeria
Language English
Igbo
Budget ₦80 million (estimated)[1]

'76, formerly titled Lions of '76, is an upcoming Nigerian historical fiction drama film produced by Adonaijah Owiriwa and Izu Ojukwu and directed by Izu Ojukwu. It stars Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, Rita Dominic and Ibinabo Fiberesima.[2]

Set six years after the civil war, a young officer Middle Belt gets into a romantic relationship with an O-level student from the South-eastern region. However, their relationship is strained by constant military postings. The soldier gets accused of being involved in the 1976 unsuccessful military coup and assassination of General Murtala Mohammed, and the heavily pregnant wife, gets entangled in an emotional dilemma.

The historical account in '76 went through a seven-month approval period at the Nigerian Military before filming started. The film which is set in the '70s was shot in Ibadan, Oyo.[3][4] The film has been in production for about five years.[5]

Cast

Production

Ojukwu has always had fantasies about making military movies, so much that he follows many coup stories. When the '76 project came along, he had to do a lot more readings and research, and also consult scholars on the crucial aspects of the story, to ensure historical accuracy;[6] over a year was spent on the pre-production stage of the film.[7] The historical account of '76 has the support of the Nigerian Military as the script went through a seven-month investigation and approval period before filming started. The military also assigned personnel to train the actors and guide the military aspect of the film.[8][9] During the film's development, the director tried to minimize violence as he wants people to focus on the story and not get distracted or pissed off by gory images.[6] Eight period cars of the 1970s were refurbished to be used in the film.[6][10]

Filming took place mainly at Mokola Barracks, Ibadan, Oyo.[6] The film was shot using Arri Super 16 cameras; It was initially meant to be shot on 35 mm film cameras, but the ground glass of one of the cameras to be used got damaged. As a result, the director opted to shoot on 16mm film cameras instead.[6][10] The film stock used for filming, along with other equipments used for production were subsidized by the Nigerian Film Corporation.[6]After over four months on set, Principal photography was concluded in July 2012.[11][12]

Release

A teaser trailer was released to the public on 20 November 2012[13][14] The release was initially slated for 4 October 2013, but was pushed back indefinitely due to delayed post production.[15] A first official trailer for the film was released on 14 November 2014,[16] and the film anticipates a release on or before the fourth quarter of 2016.

Themes

Izu Ojukwu stated that “it’s a story told from a dual point of view – from the soldier’s patriotic perspective and from that of the officer’s wives.” Ojukwu also makes it clear that the film pays homage to the strength of Soldiers' wives, “As far as I’m concerned, the wives are the real soldiers,…they are the ones who suffer from whatever decisions their husbands make — whether on the battlefield or within their office complexes.”[3]

Issues reflected in the film include the rumours of foreign involvement in Murtala Muhammed's coup; Ojukwu states: "You cannot run away from them… You must deal with all the rumours — although we cannot say, factually, what happened…".[6] The film also strongly portrays intertribal marriages; '76 is set six years after the Nigerian Civil War and according to the director, this was an era when the Nigerian people started playing down on all forms of discrimination and saw themselves more as brothers and sisters.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Ogunlesi, Tolu (10 October 2013). "Nigeria’s ‘Nollywood’ seeks overseas acclaim". FT.com. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "An Epic Tale of Soldiers & the Officers’ Wives! Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Ibinabo Fiberisima, Chidi Mokeme star in Izu Ojukwu’s New Movie, ’76". Bella Naija. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Lions of ’76 – New Nollywood Movie By Izu Ojukwu". Retrospective. 23 November 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  4. ↑ Tunde (12 July 2012). "Izu Ojukwu’s Lion of 76, An Arduous journey to Celluloid". Live Ofofo. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  5. ↑ Tunde (12 July 2012). "Izu Ojukwu’s Lion of 76, An Arduous journey to Celluloid". LiveOfofo. Retrieved 16 September 2014. Note: The interview was conducted in 2012.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Tunde (12 July 2012). "Izu Ojukwu’s Lion of 76, An Arduous journey to Celluloid". LiveOfofo. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "Nollywood ups its game: 10 movies to look forward to in 2012". YNaija. YNaija. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  8. ↑ Tunde (12 July 2012). "Izu Ojukwu’s Lion of 76, An Arduous journey to Celluloid". Live Ofofo. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "COMING SOON: ’76". Nollywood Reinvented. Nollywood Reinvented. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Nigerian Movie Industry Steps up their Game with Movie '76 - Watch Teaser". Fabulous-City. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "NEW TRAILER: IZU OJUKWU’S LIONS OF ’76". Naija Life Magazine. 24 November 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  12. ↑ James, Osaremen Ehi (15 July 2012). "[Birthday Pictures] Ramsey Nouah Celebrates With Rita Dominic On Movie Set". The Nigerian Voice. Retrieved 24 September 2014.
  13. ↑ "76 Teaser trailer". YouTube. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  14. ↑ Bada, Gbenga. "Izu Ojukwu releases ‘Lions of 76’ trailer". Movie Moments. Movie Moments. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  15. ↑ "76". Afrinolly. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  16. ↑ "WATCH the Official Trailer of “76” Starring Chidi Mokeme, Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Ibinabo Fiberesima & More". Bella Naija. 18 November 2015. Retrieved 20 February 2016.

External links

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