In less than a week, two indigenous gay-themed and transgender-themed movies made their debut online.
With no graphic sex scenes between two same-sex individuals, these movies “Duada” and “Feyint’oluwa,” still come with a certain kind of tackiness that evokes anger.
The problem isn’t that gay-themed movies are being made or that Nollywood shouldn’t portray characters that are not in line with Nigeria’s moral believes. The problem, however, is that no research is being carried out by Nollywood writers, directors or even the actors that interpret these characters.
No attempt is made to capture believable moments. These movies simply fall back on crass stereotypes.
A 2016 Nigerian movie “Roommates” which stars Amaka Iruobe and Charmaine Cyril as lesbian partners and some love scenes between Femi Adebayo and his ‘boyfriend’ are examples of stereotypically flawed and exaggerated Nollywood LGBT movies.
It’s either you want to shoot a gay love scene or you don’t. It’s either they are cuddling or kissing or they are not. Stop creating flawed and unrealistic characters. It is not compulsory for an LGBT movie to have love scenes, especially, if they will always be tacky in a slapstick way.
Nobody will doubt the sexuality of an LGBT character simply because he or she doesn’t sway their hips, hang their hands in the air while talking or bite their lips.
In “Duada,” Odunlade as an effeminate man who loves to dress as a woman could have been more real and mature. However, watching the 2-minute clip, all I could see was a movie set out to make money through facetious interpretation.
In Asurf Oluseyi’s “Hell or High Water,” “The Haves and Have Not,” “The Danish Girl,” “Pretty Little Liars,” “Scandal,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Game of Thrones” among others, LGBT characters are not stereotyped, yet, their characters are believable.
The representation of homosexuality in most Nollywood movies is at best a caricature attempt at bad comedy. The producers repeatedly rely on the long-running homophobic stereotype for comedy.
Progressive movies such as “Hell or High Water” have told realistic and believable gay stories devoid of stereotypes. They have told stories, passed messages and at the same time explored the reality of sexuality amidst spirituality, exorcism, blackmail.
Asurf obviously had an agenda when he set out to make “Hell or High Water,” something producers of “Duada,” “Feyint’oluwa” and most Nollywood movies with an LGBT character apparently lack.
A quick look at Hollywood’s “The Danish Girl,” despite its plot and the fact that trangenders and homosexuals are not accepted in Nigeria, the movie was made in a way that it evokes emotions from viewers. Irrespective of ones belief, a certain connection is felt.
Most LGBT Nollywood movies do not in any way further conversations about homosexuality. They simply foster homophobia in a tactless, unrealistic and tasteless manner.
While their plot come off as hackneyed and stereotypical, the most disappointing thing about the above mentioned Yoruba movies is seeing top Nollywood actors Femi Adebayo and Odunlade Adekola take up roles that they have no business with. Not every role is made for every actor.
Nigerians are not closer to accepting people from the LGBT community on screen, but that doesn’t mean Nollywood can’t tell their stories.
However, it wouldn’t hurt if a little research is carried out and these stories are told in tasteful ways.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate