Nigerian Prince, written and directed by Faraday Okoro - 7 out of 10

Nigerian Prince, written and directed by Faraday Okoro
7 out of 10


One way to note about this film would be to dismiss it.

In a short evaluation, we could say that it is not Capernaum, Girl or any of the other Foreign Language Films, nominated for the Academy Award this year...and never mind Roma.
Furthermore there are so many flaws that it might not be worth watching it...period.

However, if one is looking for merit, one finds at least one.
After all:

"The mind is its own place, it can make heaven out of hell and hell out of heaven "

So let's make heaven.
The performance of Chinaza Uche as Plus is convincing, for most of the time.

Quite a few of the hoodlums, police captain and other criminals have a credible presence.
Alas, Antonio Bell as Eze does a lot to sink the movie.

In my view, his acting was unprofessional, amateurish, artificial and overall, he took the fun away.
The start was rather promising.

Plus is selling a car for some millions of naira.
The customer is haggling.

And he is not Brian, from the Monty Python version of part of the bible.
Brian aka Comedy Jesus was in a hurry and the unhappy salesman wanted a haggle, which the pressed customer would not deliver.

Anyway, that is probably the Best Comedy Ever and we have to return to the Nigerian Prince.
Finally, the car is sold, after a higher price is asked by the salesman and a lower offer advanced by customer, then a lower from Plus...

The catch was not the price though.
After they sign the contract, in the office, when the car owner walks out to get his property...there is nothing outside.

The alleged mechanic had driven it away and took Plus from a corner nearby.
This kind of thing happens in the developing world...I had my car taken from the mechanics, where they were supposed to fix it and what was worse, the police at that time would not investigate, for they said I had given it of my own accord to the shop, it was not stolen and thus I would have to take them to court and eventually get one wheel and whatever would be left, after years of court battle.

For a bribe however, one cop took the trouble and we found the Audi, near a bridge, in a rather bad shape, but still a car and not one or two remaining car parts.

Hence, this part, and a few others actually, seems familiar.
Plus is taken to the police station, where the captain is furious over his missing share of the spoils of the scam.

For he used to have twenty per cent of the take, from this and other criminals.
The man of the law would increase that to forty percent.

Furthermore, he beats his accomplices, through hatchet men in police uniforms, and threatens them with murder.
One would die.

When Eze enters the stage, the narrative is compromised.
Apart from the flawed acting, this part is preposterous.

He is sent from America to Nigeria to Learn about himself 
His mother claims he does not know who he is and what his goal, meaning in life is.

Mind you, this is crucial.
The intention is formidable.

Only " hell is paved with the good intentions" Shakespeare.

It also feels more than inadequate and melodramatic.
To send your son to a place with a terrible reputation, where from most people would try to make the trip to other way round, looks like abuse.

Yes, they originally come from there and she sends this teenager in the care of her sister in Lagos.
But she also lies about the length of this "educational tour"

The young man thinks it is for four weeks, which he wants to cut down immediately, only to find that he has to stay for a whole year.
Anyway, the Eze section would be rated a four and the only part restoring some interest in the. Option picture has Plus and his shenanigans in it.

After the car scheme, he is involved in a money laundering act.
Literally laundering!

And he is admirable as a man dressed in what looks like fine native clothes.
I once had a Nigerian neighbor and bought a set from him.

Alas, occasions to exit the house with them are rare here.

To end with, there is an article in The Economist, where a study on the subject of Nigerian Prince scams is mentioned.
The fact that most seem so absurd is not a flaw!

It is Essential for their success.
They need a proposal that is ridiculous enough to select customers properly.

If it is not dumb enough, it would cause problems.
For instance, if one is interested in the offer to send some money in order to get the inheritance of the dead, rich Nigerian Prince, he must be sufficiently simple.

One who has a low IQ, but not low enough and thus would make inquiries, ask details would compromise the business model.
They do not have enough man power - most often they have none at all - to deal with back and forth sessions of questions and answers!

Thus, this is he perfect model for a real life scam.
Make it stupid enough so that Only stupid people would fall for it.

Any other type would be too much fuss and they do not want and cannot cope with that.
Somehow, the Nigerian Prince is a case in point and a demonstration of the argument.