MOVIE REVIEW: ‘House of Ga’a’ is a well-crafted spectacle with minor flaws

‘House of Ga’a‘, the epic Nollywood movie, premiered on Netflix on July 26. The project was produced by Bolanle Austen-Peters and written by Tunde Babalola.

Following the remarkable success of her recently released biopic ‘Funmilayo Ransom Kuti,’ Peters’ latest offering appears to be a must-watch for lovers of historical movies.

The movie trailer also generated significant anticipation, and after watching ‘House of Ga’a’ I can confidently say it lives up to the hype. It is an unforgettable epic, crafted with exceptional skill and attention to detail.

SYNOPSIS

Set in the 18th-century Oyo Empire, ‘House of Ga’a’ follows the tale of a power-hungry prime minister who stops at nothing to become more powerful than the kings he served. He is fuelled by revenge and fury.

‘House of Ga’a’ explores power and treachery.

THE STRONG POINT OF THE FILM

House of Ga’a’ is a well-crafted film that delivers an engaging and historically rich narrative. Despite the complexity surrounding Ga’a’s character, the narrative is delivered straightforwardly. The plot progression is seamless, all subplots are interwoven skillfully, giving a cohesive conclusion. There are no loose ends.

The cast’s performance is highly commendable, particularly the lead character. Femi Branch’s performance stood out for me because he understood the role and delivered exceptionally. Did you see the scene where he became paralyzed? It was so realistic. Besides him, other cast members, including Ibrahim Chatta and Funke Akindele, also brought their A-game, making the film worthwhile.

The set design and costumes in ‘House of Ga’a’ are impressive. The film delves into Yoruba culture with great attention to detail in these aspects. The carefully chosen locations, wood-crafted chairs, and horses contribute to an immersive cultural experience.

Also praiseworthy is the film’s cinematography, particularly the special effects and makeup which gave the movie more authenticity. The tribal marks and scars were properly done. One standout scene was Gabriel Afolayan’s beating; the torn skin and blood look real. It made the scene even more emotional.

THE WEAK POINTS OF THE FILM

One of the weak points of ‘House of Ga’a’ is the inconsistency in language fluency among the cast. Being a Yoruba epic, it was quite disturbing to hear some cast struggle with the language. Their Yoruba dialogue often sounded rehearsed and unnatural, detracting from the film’s intended authenticity.

The CGI in the film was notably unrealistic. The fire effects at the end and the snake that bit one of the Alaafin to death were particularly poorly executed. They appeared overly obvious and could have been much better.

A questionable aspect of ‘House of Ga’a’ is the scene where Oyemekun kills Sasa. Given that Sasa is depicted as a formidable herbalist, his sudden defeat at the hands of Oyemekun felt unconvincing. How did he kill him so easily?

FINAL VERDICT

‘House of Ga’a’ gets a 7.5/10