Movies about spoilt kids being taught responsibility, and being told off for bad behavior are as tiring as they’re in abundance.
It is annoying to keep using the working class as symbols of responsibility and bearings when they continue to be exploited. You may have noticed how overused that theme is in movies.
See Up North for example, the emphasis on stories along this line is gradually getting boring.
However, Breaded Life continues to tread that fine line and, to its credit, does so in a distinctive way.
Timini Egbuson plays Sunmi, a spoiled affluent youngster with some type of resentment towards his mother, causing him act in an appalling manner.
This movie seems to fit the stereotypical mold, at least on the surface. Rich, spoiled child, performed by Timini Egbuson; verified.
However, Breaded Life presumably stops there in terms of exploiting stereotypes because, as Egbuson would show, the use of the main character is considerably more extensive.
Along with Tina Mba, Breaded Life also stars Bimbo Ademoye and Bisola Aiyeola. Also included are Nkechi Blessing Sunday, MC Lively, and Lateef Adedimeji.
Yet another privileged kid having his life flipped upside down is a key component of Breaded Life. But how this image sells that deserves kudos.
Sunmi’s life taking a turn for the better is not your typical tale of riches turned to rags. It’s not a case of bad behavior going too far or having too many absurd arguments. Instead, this film has a sense of mystery about it.
Family and friends of Sunmi all of a sudden can’t remember him. It’s not like he was forced to go to support himself. It’s because he essentially doesn’t exist and needs to support himself.
Bimbo Ademoye, who is perhaps the star of this movie, plays a bread seller in Sunmi’s lonely and at first glance hopeless quest.
Director Biodun Stephen expressed his admiration for Ademoye’s desire to work with a dialect coach and dress and sound the part in interviews with Sodas and Popcorn. This is demonstrated in movies like Dear Affy and Nneka the Pretty Serpent.
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You can only tell it’s Ademoye performing those many roles based on appearance.
It’s the situation in Breaded Life, where her portrayal of the bread vendor with a limited command of Yoruba shines a light on the picture.
However, it’s not just in her words and speech. Her attitude and facial expressions reveal it. The seeming astonishment and the sincere display of love. The inescapable frustration and the palpable sensation of fear. Everything is actual, and you not only see it but also experience it.
Not that Bimbo Ademoye is the only performer that brings light to this movie. There is Bisola Aiyeola, who portrays Agi with such authenticity and unbelievable plausibility.
The role of Jugunu, played by Lateef Adedimeji, works well to serve as a reminder of his on-screen performances outside the emerging trend of playing a lackey or associate who speaks halting Yoruba.
Not to mention how the film does a good job of showing us a Sunmi who is both mature and still not a pale imitation of his earlier self. The way the word “thief” is pronounced changes with time, and this is perhaps the most relevant example. Additionally, our lead characters have amazing chemistry together that is nearly unbearable.
But let’s get back to the Breaded Life narrative. This film does a good job of not just bringing a tired trope to life, but doing so elegantly. Whether the situation is one of romance, peril, or conflict, it always does a fantastic job of setting it. It is able to provide what is to come without adding predictability to it. This film is adept at keeping its viewers on board.
But this film’s humor doesn’t undermine its substance. There is no way, shape, or manner in which to refute the hilarious genius of this film. But once Breaded Life becomes real, it becomes real.
There is no contrived humor to get in the way when things get emotional. It’s well balanced.
Breaded Life’s final disclosure and storyline twist, however, could be criticized. Possibly the only way for the movie to complete its circle is in this manner. However, Breaded Life kind of ruins some of its positive aspects with its tardy revelation.
There was something angsty about being told that most of what the audience saw and became emotionally invested in was fake.
It’s possible that was the objective, and if it was hoping for an emotional reaction, it got one, but it still hurt.
Breaded Life hits the appropriate notes overall, though. Although the film’s main social message may be hackneyed and slightly faulty, it is an indisputable and compelling work of art.