Now Playing On Netflix Is The Wedding Party, Nollywood’s Breakout FilmPosted by Wilson Morales
April 24, 2017
Over the weekend, Netflix debut the Nigerian romcom film ‘The Wedding Party,’ which is directed by Kemi Adetiba and stars Banky Wellington, Adesua Etomi, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Iretiola Doyle, Atunyota Akpobome, Sola Sobowale, Somkele Iyamah-Idhalama, and Olusola Abiodun Sobowale.
After the film made its World Premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival followed by other festivals, it was released in theaters last December. Since then, according to Shadow and Act, “the film has become the highest grossing movie in the history of Nollywood since the groundbreaking “Living in Bondage” in 1992. “The Wedding Party” has grossed more than N200,000,000 so far (about $655,000) on a production budget of only N60 million (about $196,000).”
Written by playwright Tosin Otudeko and Kemi Adetiba, ‘The Wedding Party’ is an Elfike Film Collective production – a first of its kind initiative designed to raise the bar in African storytelling through unrivalled technical achievement in filmmaking and creative media arts.
Art gallery owner Dunni (Adesua Etomi) is the cherished 24 year-old daughter of Bamidele Coker (Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba) and his wife, Tunuade (Sola Sobowale). When Dunni and her fiancé Dozie (Banky Wellington) elect to marry, the Cokers decide to throw the wedding of the century. Success in Nigeria’s oil industry has given them new wealth, so why not splash out for their only daughter? Besides, their reputation is at stake. While Dozie’s parents, Felix (Richard Mofe-Damijo) and Obianuju Onwuka (Ireti Doyle), believe their son is marrying beneath him, for the sake of tradition they’re willing to leave the big day to the bride’s parents. Barely.
