User reviews

Would have been a better story but for the introduction of the subplot story of the relationship of the boy with the rich mans daughter.

In all honesty, the subplot served no purpose and was a distraction to the potential of the beautiful story of the boy who healed the heart of the rich man.

The redeeming quality of this movie was Mr Timi's monologue in the church at the end although it was predictable but still invoked emotions to the movie that was already lacking it as none of the other scenes was that provocking or if I may add convincing.

Still a movie worth seeing! One of my favorite scenes was Mrs Timi in the burning car.

This film had potential to be something more. It has a resonating story but the execution leaves the viewer wanting more.

First off, the narration which wasn't that well done seemed to get in the way, coming in almost every 10 minutes or so. Moments I expected a pause for dramatic effect were just wasted, with the actor providing the voiceover sounding like he was reciting a boring poem.

I've heard that Wale Ojo is a good actor. I'm not convinced after seeing this. His portrayal of a grief-stricken man comes across as too mechanical; the character is basically a robot that could suddenly switch from annoying to downright cheerful in a second.

The love subplot between the houseboy and his girl seems forced and I didn't buy the hasty way she fell for him.

Generally, the acting doesn't compare to what is obtainable on remarkable Nollywood films these days. The only person who impressed me a bit is Genoveva Umeh.

Perhaps the biggest issue with Breath of Life is that it is a Nigerian story told as if it's from the Western world. This reflects in a lot things, the dialogue included. We Nigerians don't talk like that for God's sake and we certainly don't behave like that.

For what it's worth, the third act leaves a lasting impression but it's not enough to elevate this movie beyond its mediocre quality.

Breath of Life was a major difference from the ground-breaking film 'God Calling'

It was tough to connect to the story because it was artificial, everything looked forced from the screenplay to the production.

We'd like to believe it was caused by the "Amazon influence"; when filmmakers are financed by giants like Netflix, Disney, or Amazon, they gradually lose their unique touch in order to fit in.

This is soooo sad...

DELICIOUS

-Chimezie Imo saved the day by staying true to his natural and exceptional talent. It was nice seeing him in a different role

BLAND

-It was heartbreaking that Breath of Life was just an average tale we've seen many times in the past. It felt like watching those colonial British movies, but this time, it was an African version.

We could map out the end from the beginning. There was no ambiance in the scenario, e.g. There was no chemistry between young Rev. Timi and his family.

The story crossed over so many years that the first Nigerian Independence was now celebrated in '1968'😱

-The color grading was too bright for the somber mood of the scneario. Cinematography could have utilized more dramatic camera angles and movements in order to deepen the narrative

-The climax was plain, nothing to really get you excited. The film could have included powerful symbols to accentuate the theme of Breath of Life.

The shocking part, we have Chimezie's character, Elijah, an aspiring pastor always preaching about the fear of God, yet this was the same guy who was interested in romancing a non-believer, the guy cussed and fornicated😱

-The term "boy" is a derogatory word used by the British to belittle black men during slavery times. So, Rev. Timi, having grown up in England, should have been fully aware of this. Yet, that's the same word he used to call Elijah😱

-Overall, we were more like spectators than participants in this story as it was not relatable. The foreign accents, foreign costume designs, and superficial dialogues distanced us greatly.

It's so sad 'cos we enjoyed 'God Calling'; now we're anxious about future Nemsia projects as Amazon will still be financing them.

I am not good at making reviews and I don't boast about having the terms that a movie critic masters.

I speak from the heart and whenever a movie touches me and has what it takes to make the world a better place I do believe its mission is accomplished.

In a world where faith is only a surface polish in case it arranges people to get to their selfish aims, where real love and solidarity are only words that are being used as well for selfish purposes, the real message of what human love means is touched here.

We are no angels, but once in a while, if we look and see, if we open our hearts, we can see that there is much more to life than competition, hatred, greed, bitterness... Once in a while we can be touched by an angel... This is a wonderful movie: if life has often disappointed you, if you feel hopeless and depressed, just give it a try.

Believe me, once you watch it, you'll feel a little bit better and you'll still have a little more faith in humanity and God.

Breath of Life had the potential to be something truly gripping, especially given its stunning cinematography and solid production value. From the moment the prologue kicks in, I was impressed by the care taken to set the mood. The visuals are definitely a highlight of the film. Nollywood has been stepping up its game in terms of technical aspects, and Breath of Life is no exception. The use of lighting, camera work, and scenery to evoke emotion is top-notch. You can tell the crew behind the scenes knew how to elevate the film's aesthetic appeal, and for that, it deserves credit.

However, as visually engaging as it is, the movie starts to lose me with its narrative choices. At over two hours, Breath of Life feels like it's trying to say too much while also not saying enough. The pacing drags in certain areas, particularly because the film spends too much time focused on irrelevances, it started to feel a bit heavy-handed, especially as it kept circling back to faith-based dialogues and preachy moments.

Another challenge I had with the film was its two unfocused plotlines. There are moments where you're not quite sure where the story is heading. One minute, it's delving into family drama, and the next, it's shifting gears into romance or faith-based introspection. It felt like the writers couldn't quite decide what story they wanted to tell. The result is a movie that feels more scattered than it should, which takes away from the overall impact.

Speaking of the drama, I have to say it's a little too over-the-top at times. I understand that a certain level of emotion is necessary to drive a story forward, but Breath of Life crosses the line into melodrama a few too many times for my taste. There are points where the intensity of the performances feels more like a soap opera than a film meant to be taken seriously.

Then there's the issue of the characters. While some are tolerable, the girlfriend character is downright irritating. Her scenes are meant to add tension and conflict, but instead, I found myself rolling my eyes. She's written in such a way that you can't help but feel frustrated by her presence, and not in the way that's intentional or effective. It feels more like a missed opportunity to flesh out her role in a meaningful way.

Despite its narrative and character flaws, there are aspects of Breath of Life that deserve recognition. The prologue is one of the better parts of the film, offering a strong setup that draws you in early on. The visuals and production value certainly make it more enjoyable than it could have been, and there are moments where the film truly feels alive - if only it had maintained that energy throughout.

In the end, Breath of Life is a mixed experience. The technical execution is impressive, and the opening moments show promise, but the overly long runtime, unfocused plotlines, and overly dramatic performances pull it down. It's not a bad film by any means, but it could have been so much more with tighter storytelling and less melodrama. If you're into beautifully shot Nollywood films, it's worth a watch; but manage your expectations.

This is like the Best Nollywood movie I've seen in a life time .... The pacing is just too perfect, great character development, good acting and also good casting. .... The movie thought a lot of great lessons, it has a lot of moral lessons, the English spoken is audible, the characters are great, the cinematography is a 10,the locations are great ........... I think directors need to learn from whoever directed this movie because this is just too perfect ..... And I hope to get more of this from the Nollywood Industry. ........ Forget about the critics, they are just there for hating.........

Cinematography.is top notch! Didn't seem like I was watching one of them Nollywood movies. From the quality of the production it shows the team put in a lot of concentrated work , effort and funds.

Loved the storyline , it's a lot different from the usual . They captured the scenes of the past real good. The choice of the actors is quite appealing , great diction and acting.

This is an improvement from God calling, and it can compete internationally . I would like to see a series from the same writer and producer, I'm sure he won't disappoint.

I am looking forward to watching more films from BB Sasore.

Super proud! 🙌,

Yvii.

Breath of Life

This movie details the story of Timi, an exceptionally brilliant man and young clergyman. Other than being able to hold his breath for as long as he wishes, he also graduated top of his class at Cambridge and was the highest honoured cadet in his entry class. Timi moves to Nigeria in 1960 with his wife and daughter and starts a local church. Everything is rosy until a gang sets his wife and daughter ablaze in retaliation for bearing witness against them. Timi tracks those responsible and kills them off before attempting to kill himself but death doesn't come no matter how hard he tries.

Over three decades later, he's now a faithless recluse living in the confines of his mansion. His butler dies and his replacement comes in faith-filled Elijah. Slowly and surely Elijah begins to crumble the walls Timi has set around him, and their employer-to-employee relationship transforms into a familial camaraderie.

The transition from a faithless recluse to a man finding solace through an unexpected friendship with Elijah, his new butler, is delicately crafted.

The emotional depth of the storyline is accentuated by the brilliant performances of the cast. Wale Ojo, Chimezie Imo, and Genoveva Umeh breathe life into their characters, creating a seamless and genuine portrayal.

The cinematography of "Breath of Life" stands out as a visual feast, capturing the essence of each moment with brilliance. The film's exploration of various genres adds layers to the narrative, although the blend isn't always flawless. Despite this, the final product deserves applause for its deviation from the typical style of Nollywood movies. Refreshingly unique, the movie successfully avoids becoming overly preachy despite its faith-based theme.

In essence, "Breath of Life" offers a refreshing departure from conventional storytelling, delivering a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience that transcends the boundaries of its genre.

8-8.5/10.

A very nice movie. I care more about the storyline and Creativity, than the cameras and all that. I agree the movie was a bit average, but who cares? The moral of the story is life changing, the creativity, futuristic design and out of the box thinking is on point. I haven't seen many Nigeria movies go out of their way to do something more "Out of the box" if you know what I mean.

We don't have to act the usual ways we act. We can spice things up a bit and be different. This movie is an example of that.

To be honest, the ending made me rethink my life a lot. I have been through a lot, and thinking of the number of times God has saved me, I strongly agree that everyone has a purpose.

Please watch! The cinematic, camera, lightening whatever doesn't matter.

I absolutely love all the characters casted as they were incredibly perfect for the role. English spoken were clear, audible and articulate. I cried a lot watching this movie, this was 100 percent a creative's doing and all the cast did their hardest to bringing each character to life. This movie made me revere Wale Ojo as his character was the most moving for me. I totally recommend watching this movie as it will bring you closer to God and a little bit accepting of people with grumpy attitude. Whoever casted Bridgette should be statued.

I quote. "You do not have to know a pain before sharing it"

"Breath of Life" is a captivating Nollywood masterpiece that seamlessly weaves together a compelling narrative, stellar performances, and breathtaking cinematography.

The film's exploration of love, resilience, and cultural nuances is both heartwarming and thought-provoking.

The cast delivers exceptional performances, bringing authenticity to their characters.

The director's meticulous attention to detail shines through, creating a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience.

With a poignant soundtrack complementing the storytelling, "Breath of Life" is a testament to the brilliance of Nollywood in delivering impactful and resonant cinema.

It's a must-watch that leaves a lasting impression, showcasing the richness of African storytelling on the global stage.

Arguably has to be the best nollywood movie I've seen in a while. That movie moves from Loss and pain to anger to romance to happiness and sadness again. The two unknown lead characters did a fantastic job. It talks about pain and how much it greatly affects us if we don't have the wherewithal to move past it. I never expected it to be that good. I have a few reservations though. Wale Ojo didn't do well in my opinion, he acting the character who is in pain wasn't convincing enough but was still decent enough. It's a step in the right direction for nollywood cos I'm not much of the fan of the industry's works.

This movie excellently portrays a story of love, pain, justice, disappointment, and hope again. Every scene beautifully builds up to the plot in a creative way. I went through every emotion with this movie. There were times I cried, laughed, felt anger, relief and joy. This movie was personal to me. Especially as a Christian, it answered the questions; why does God allow bad things happen to believers? Is there purpose in pain? Can one's faith prevail in the darkest seasons of life? Is there hope again for an ardent backslider?

Breath of Life is easily the bestttt movie I have seen this year.

Very well produced and directed. One of the best films to ever come out of Nigeria.

Had a slow start but picked up speed quickly. Watched it 3 times in 2 days.

The setting in Ibadan takes one back to Nigeria of the 60s and the storyline reminds one of the typical relationship between the master and the servant. Wale Ojo's cantankerous grief reaction was well acted. The sad end to the film was unexpected and am sure will make one or two people tearful.

Wale Ojo and his House manager am sure will win an award or two for this.

The director and producer should be very well congratulated for this masterpiece Highly recommended.

A tale of love, family and purpose. I think this is one of those films that would generate lots of conversation on the theme of faith, predestination and classism. This story of divine purpose and the circle of life with the backdrop of postcolonial Nigeria feels truly nigerian but also feels very different from the nollywood we have become accustomed to. The cast is amazing, the emotions feel raw and the story ties itself together so neatly, I was genuinely moved to tears and no nollywood movie has moved me to tears in decades. I will describe the feel of the movie to the age of Adaline with a touch of the Scent of a woman. A father son relationship that evolves with a bit of the unexplained supernatural in there.

This has to be one of the best Nollywood movie ever seen , from the moment he understood his calling and derailed due to tough life challenges that shook his Faith. This movie further tells us we always live for something in the end. Any poor review are from people that didn't even watch for up to fifteen minutes or watched from a broken screen and concluded .Give it a trial and there won't be a regret.

His only mistake was from the beginning when he pointed out the culprit,many at times not everything you see has to be said,,The Holy book said Wisdom is profitable to direct ,applying that could have saved his family. But in the end what will be will be (que sera sera)

This is one of the most fantastic movies I have ever seen. Well-written script. Fantastic character development and portrayals by the actors and actresses. Cinematography is captivating and simply excellent. Wonderfully edited. Wonderful soundtrack. Did I say wonderful? You lose yourself in the movie, in the life of the storyline. There is horror, tragedy, humor, romance, redemption. Nothing cheesy. I can't say enough good things about this movie. I am very surprised that there would be any bad reviews and that people have slept on it. This is excellent Nollywood and excellent, period. Please go and watch it. It.

What an amazing film.

A MUST WATCH!

I don't usually write reviews, but this film is such a beauty I want to shout it from the rooftops!

I'm writing from the perspective of a Nigerian British female. It's so hard to find something that fits perfectly into that mix, this piece of art transcends that to the highest standard.

The story telling Cinematography Directing Music The acting!

I can't wait to rewatch this movie.

I've told all my family about it

Such a beauty A credit to Nigerian filmmaking

Well done to all the creative minds behind this!

THANK YOU for blessing us with this work of art!

"Breath of Life" - A Vivid Tapestry of Emotion and Culture in Nollywood's Finest Storytelling!

"Breath of Life" is a testament to Nollywood's evolving storytelling prowess, offering a compelling narrative steeped in the nuances of family and personal redemption. The actors bring a profound depth to their roles, capturing the audience's empathy with authentic performances. With its vibrant cinematography and a well-crafted script that celebrates the richness of Nigerian culture, the film is both an emotional journey and a visual feast. Despite a few pacing issues, it remains an engaging and thought-provoking movie that stands out in the landscape of African cinema.

So, I'm not a big fan of Nollywood movies (since most of them are overhyped nonsense or complete balderdash) and I rarely ever watch one unless it gets enough buzz to catch my attention. A few have recently, like Gangs of Lagos, Anikulapo etc. This one did too, after it won at the AMVCA. After seeing a few comments admitting it was much better than Tribe of Judah, I decided I was going to see it and judge for myself (especially since I absolutely DNFed TOJ for the simple fact that it was boring, overhyped, both poorly acted and overacted etc).

Now, from the first few scenes of this movie, I already could tell I liked it better than any Nigerian movie I'd ever seen. The picture quality was sharp. The plot seemed unique (compared to other Nollywood titles anyway). Some of the acting was impressive. And the general tone of the movie, together with the voice over-which although could've been better-was just something out of the usual. After only three or four scenes, by Nigerian standards, I knew I was watching something close to a Nigerian masterpiece.

Having said all of that, I must add that I in no way thought this movie perfect. There definitely were some cringe moments, some second-rate acting, and some directing issues. To begin with, I absolutely did not like the CGI. I mean, who even uses CGI for things like a barrel fire or burning a car or shooting a person? Everytime I saw a fire, it annoyed me. The CGI wound and blood from the headshot was laughable at best. The only more laughable thing than the CGI was the scene with the man being riddled with bullets from a fusillade. The man looked like a dancing puppet the whole time, flapping his flaccid wrists and fingers like that.

As for the acting, I must say I believe we can do better. Some of it was stilted, even from the leads e.g scene where Timi walks in on Elijah and the projector and (very awkwardly) wastes no time breaking down in tears even after nearly 50yrs of mourning. Only one that seemed faultless was the girl's character and maybe her father's.

Also, as a writer, I just couldn't bring myself to accept some of the dialogue, especially in the scene where Elijah and his woman have their big fight. It just didn't flow and was nowhere near seamless. Someone with less savvy might point to the actors but I can always tell when the fault is from the writing. The dialogue just wasn't fluid. The individual parts didn't connect and it made everything feel both forced and disjointed.

Overall, while I thought this movie was great (again, by Nigerian standards), while I did come away reasonably entertained, I must say there definitely is plenty room for improvement.