Movie Title: My Sunshine
Language: English, Korea
Duration: 1 hour 14 minutes
Release date: 2024
Streaming platform: YouTube
Director: Abdulrasheed Bello (JJC Skillz)
Cast: Kemi Ikuseedun, Mr Macaroni, Chinedu Ikedieze, Olayode Juliana, Akinsola Esther, Diva Gold, Grace Angel, Khalid Ahatu, Akinsola Esther, Peter Komba and others.
Article page with financial support promotion
'My Sunshine' by sketch maker Kemi Ikuseedun, also known as Mummy Wa or Kemzmama, is groundbreaking as it is the first Nigerian film to integrate the Korean language.
The film features an innovative fusion of two distinct film cultures – K-drama and Nollywood, and introduces a new concept that adds a new twist to the Nigerian film industry, sparking curiosity among the audience.
Directed by Abdulrasheed Bello aka JJC Skillz, it revolves around the experiences of high school students at a Korean school owned by a Nigerian. It highlights cultural exchange in a way uncommon in African cinema.
This mix of cultural elements suggests an attempt to cater to both Nollywood fans and Korean drama lovers, making 'My Sunshine' a bold experiment in cross-cultural storytelling.
Was this experimental attempt at creating a masterpiece worth it?
Charis and her friend Susanne Plot
The film begins with Charis Benson and her mother discussing a scholarship opportunity at a Korean school in Nigeria. Due to her late father's Korean heritage, Charis already has some knowledge of the Korean language.
Charis and four other students receive the scholarship, which is advertised at their church, and quickly begin their journey to high school.
Yewande, a rich and attractive student, quickly develops feelings for Charis, which only fuels the animosity of Yewande, Gerald's ex-girlfriend. Yewande continually attempts to undermine and belittle Charis, labeling her a “peasant.” This sets the stage for a classic high school love triangle, adding a layer of drama to the plot.
Despite Yewande's hostility, Gerald remains attracted to Charis, even inviting her to his house and trying to kiss her. Before the prom, Charis and her friend Susanne conspire to rig the votes, ensuring that Charis becomes a candidate for prom queen to upstage Yewande. This strategic move not only shows Charis' determination but also sets the stage for a dramatic graduation night. Their plan succeeds and Charis attends the prom with Gerald, her crush.
In the end, Charis wins prom queen after Yewande's plan is exposed on stage. Gerald, who wins the award as prom king, dances happily with Charis and their connection deepens when he asks her to be his girlfriend.
Gerald taking photos of Charis, his crush. Character analysis.
Kemi Ikuseedun takes on the lead role in My Sunshine, playing a student who gets a scholarship to attend a Korean school. While his effort to speak Korean is commendable, there are notable gaps in his fluency, which detract from the authenticity of the film's attempt to incorporate the language into a Nigerian context.
Chinedu Ikedieze gave a good performance despite his brief appearance, although his inability to interact with the Korean language was somewhat disappointing.
Olayode Juliana's portrayal of a teacher at the Korean school needed more depth. His attempts at speaking Korean seemed awkward, making some scenes feel flat.
Grace Angel, playing Susanne, excelled in her role. He spoke Korean more naturally and added vitality to his scenes, as did Ikuseedun in his highlights.
Classroom scene in the movie My Sunshine Movie Review
'My Sunshine' is a romantic film focused on love and friendship. However, Ikuseedun's effort to bring a K-drama inspired story to Nollywood by incorporating the Korean language and a romantic fairy tale theme falls short.
Despite the new attempt, the actors struggle with fluency in Korean, combining it with English even in short dialogues, which affects their fluency.
The film's mix of English, Korean and fragments of Yoruba can be exhausting for viewers.
While the concept is ambitious, the film's weak plot and lack of clear direction ultimately disappoints. In the end, I felt like I had wasted 1 hour and 14 minutes watching something that didn't at all impress me, warning the audience about the film's execution.
Some actors, including Ikuseedun (Mummy Wa) and her co-stars, delivered their lines well in Korean. Still, the film could have benefited from a deeper understanding of the language if the goal was to mix Korean with Nollywood effectively.
Charis and Susanne at the prom
Ikedieze, the school principal, humorously manages to say “goodbye” only in Korean despite professing a deep love for the language, which led him to establish a Korean high school.
Overall, this film is a failure and such an experiment should not be repeated for the sake of producing a film.
READ ALSO: MOVIE REVIEW: 'All of Us' is a promising series with a family story
The cinematography and sound quality are commendable for a YouTube-level Nigerian-Korean film. The camerawork effectively captures the characters' emotions and the sound design enhances the viewing experience, especially during the prom night sequence.
My Sunshine is now showing on YouTube.
Verdict
3/10