# Freedom Way

Freedom Way is a 2024 Nigerian action thriller drama film written and produced by Blessing Uzzi and directed by Afolabi Olalekan on his feature film directorial debut. The film sheds light on some of the most pressing common social issues, disparities faced by Nigerians and fellow neighboring African nations, such as rampant corruption, economic meltdown, police brutality and political oppression, while also acknowledging the long-lasting impact and ripple effect such catastrophic situations would imply on the living standards of the youngsters in Nigeria. The film was screened at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival in the discovery section of the film festival on 7 September 2024.
Since the international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the film has received widespread critical acclaim from the critics and opened to generally positive reviews from critics, praising the screenplay, execution of the storytelling aspects, direction, strong melodramatic emotional scenes, lead cast's performances and the handling of the pacing of the film.

## Synopsis

Software developers Themba (Jesse Suntele) and Tayo (Ogranya Jable) both immensely worked hard for years to find out a way to set up a new start-up venture by capitalizing on their capabilities. They managed to launch their highly anticipated venture, Easy Go — a newly created rideshare app that can connect Lagos's motorcyclists with customers in their metropolitan area. Their happiness of having built a venture on their own did not last long when they faced a major obstacle in the form of unfavorable government laws, rules and regulations, stringent audit and compliance requirements and they also faced an all-too familiar police brutality by their way just like the experience gained by majority of the Nigerians.

## Cast

* Adebowale Adedayo as Abiola
* Bimbo Akintola
* Jesse Suntele as Themba
* Meg Otanwa as Abiola's wife
* Femi Jacobs as police cop
* Mike Afolarin as Tayo
* Jable Ogranya
* Teniola Aladese
* Taye Arimoro as doctor
* Tiwalola Adebola-Walter
* Akin Lewis as Mr Ademola

## Production

The film was bankrolled by Blessing Uzzi under her production banner Bluhouse Studios. The project was announced by Afolabi Olalekan as his maiden directorial venture as he previously directed few short films and produced pop star music videos. It was reported that Blessing Uzzi had befriended Afolabi Olalekan, and both of them knew each other for quite a while. They eventually became very closely attached to each other, making a formidable bond, and it all happened within a duration of at least three to four years, which also subsequently made the possibility of their joint collaboration to facilitate a production venture in order to produce a film. Furthermore, Blessing Uzzi realized the potential of the filmmaking skills of Afolabi Olalekan after having watched some of Afolabi's short films, which literally impressed Blessing, and she ultimately came forward as a producer, fetching Afolabi substantial, adequate financial support in order to facilitate him to commence the principal photography of the film.
The film was predominantly shot and set in Lagos, a city which was also the main theme and subject matter of the director in handling the core plot of the film. The filmmakers faced daunting challenges and struggled throughout the making of the film due to the financial constraints which began to take a toll on budget allocation in order to produce the film. One of the actors who was roped in for the project eventually backed out due to the fear that his future political aspirations would be hampered if he continued to act in the film considering the storyline's harsh political stance. The schedule of the film underwent reshooting and recasting on numerous occasions which significantly delayed the planned completion of the project.

## Theme

The film symbolised the harsh realities and daily state of affairs as far as the contemporary Nigerian young generation was concerned. It also resembled the personal life story of the first time director Afolabi Olalekan who was also victimized by the police brutality and police harassment in Nigeria. The film openly took a bold stance in its depiction of the Nigeria Police Force as a cruel stakeholder which violates the fundamental rights of the young Nigerians by harassing and instructing them on how to groom themselves and dress according to their guidelines. The film also encountered the scenarios where youth being charged by police officers and brought under the police custody despite zero documentary evidence to stand as a reason for imposing such hefty punishments on such individuals.

## Reception

Variety gave a critical review insisting that the screenplay of Blessing Uzzi was reminiscing of the storytelling pattern of prominent Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi, recalling the down memory lane memories of the latter's masterpiece films as they often touch upon the elevation of the storyline which was often decided on a particular incident being unfolded in a vital point as the catalyst that would determine the proceedings and trigger the flow of the film right through to the end of the climax, as the sequence of events are often portrayed as a result of that incident.