REVIEW: The Last Days of Always: Why This Nollywood Melodrama is the Best Kind of Emotional Rollercoaster

1. Film Identification & Setup: When Life Hands You a Terminal Diagnosis

"THE LAST DAYS OF ALWAYS (2025)" is a powerful, emotionally charged entry into the modern Nollywood canon, firmly rooted in the genres of Romantic Melodrama and High-Stakes Drama. Directed with an acute understanding of the genre's demands for heightened emotion, the film stars a formidable trio: Sandra Okunzuwa as the afflicted protagonist Kathy, Uzor Arukwe as the committed love interest Manny Benson, and the veteran Uche Jombo in a scene-stealing role as Kathy's fiercely protective mother.

The film's core premise is simple yet devastating: Kathy, a dedicated nurse, is diagnosed with a severe brain tumor and given a mere ten months to live. This diagnosis arrives just as she is beginning a passionate and promising relationship with Manny, a wealthy, philanthropic heir. The film meticulously tracks Manny’s efforts to make Kathy’s remaining time a celebration of life, even as external forces—from family skepticism to corporate sabotage—conspire to tear them apart. The emotional hook is immediate: how do you fall deeper in love when you're racing against the clock?

2. Narrative Structure and Pacing: The Power of the High-Stakes Misdirection

A. Plot Trajectory: The Weight of Misinformation

The genius of "THE LAST DAYS OF ALWAYS" lies in its masterful use of misdirection. The initial establishment of Kathy's terminal illness is handled with brutal effectiveness. We see the clinical detachment of the diagnosis, the sheer terror in Kathy’s eyes, and Manny’s immediate shift from suitor to guardian. The stakes are established as life-or-death, giving every scene a palpable tension.

This intense setup makes the later reveal—that the diagnosis was a mistake, caused by a faulty MRI machine—a monumental shift in the narrative. While some critics might label this a narrative "reset button," here it functions as a brilliant literary device. It allows the film to explore genuine existential dread and sacrificial love for two acts, only to pivot and reward the characters’ faith and devotion in the final act. The faulty MRI is less a plot hole and more a crucible that proves the sincerity of Manny’s love and the resilience of Kathy’s spirit. The film asks: If you knew you were dying, who would be left standing by your side?

B. Pacing: Melodrama vs. Momentum

The film's pacing is generally well-managed, successfully balancing the necessary melodrama with propulsive plot movement. The middle act, covering Manny and Kathy's attempts to build a life despite the prognosis, is where the film risks lingering. Moments of philosophical dialogue and reflective sadness are essential, but the director wisely cuts away before the emotion becomes maudlin.

Crucially, the film avoids slowing down its pace for character acceptance; instead, it uses Manny’s refusal to accept defeat as a constant source of forward momentum. He is the engine driving the "Carpe Diem" philosophy, forcing Kathy (and the viewer) to stay engaged with life, not death.

C. Subplots: The Pillars of Conflict

The film weaves three primary subplots that significantly enrich the main romance:

The Return of Bruce (The Ex): This storyline serves as the external validation of Manny’s goodness. Bruce, Kathy's ex-boyfriend who abandoned her years prior, reappears under the guise of concern, but is quickly revealed to be a cynical drug trafficker looking to exploit Kathy’s medical vulnerability. His swift capture provides a satisfying, if slightly conventional, villain defeat, allowing the audience to fully endorse Manny as the true hero.

Olivia’s Sabotage: Manny’s corporate ex-girlfriend, Olivia, is the classic "wealthy rival." She attempts to sabotage their relationship by leaking Kathy’s medical condition to the media. This subplot cleverly raises the stakes from personal tragedy to public scandal, forcing Manny to choose between protecting his family's name and protecting Kathy's dignity. His decisive response—publicly exposing Olivia’s manipulation—cements his character as a man of integrity, not just wealth.

The Mother’s Suspicion (Uche Jombo): This is arguably the most grounded and uniquely Nigerian subplot. The mother's fierce suspicion that Manny, a rich, single man, must be a "ritualist" preying on her daughter’s desperation is a reflection of real-world anxieties and cultural distrust of sudden, inexplicable wealth. This conflict is the most emotionally authentic and provides the most dramatic tension within the family unit, making her eventual apology to Manny feel truly earned and moving.

3. Character Analysis and Performance: The Emotional Core

A. Kathy (Sandra Okunzuwa): The Nurse Who Needed Healing

Sandra Okunzuwa delivers a nuanced and heartbreaking performance as Kathy. She captures the initial stoicism of a nurse dealing with a professional diagnosis and the quiet devastation of realizing the clock is ticking. Her portrayal of love is layered: it is tentative because of the limited time, yet total because of Manny's devotion. The scene where she learns the diagnosis was false is not one of immediate joy, but of a staggering, disorienting relief—a perfect portrayal of trauma suddenly lifted. Okunzuwa ensures we feel the weight of what she almost lost, not just the happiness of what she gained.

B. Manny Benson (Uzor Arukwe): The Devoted Heir

Uzor Arukwe is the anchor of the film's emotional stability. Manny is not just rich; he is good. Arukwe expertly portrays the evolution from a charming suitor to a partner ready to sacrifice everything. Crucially, Manny's commitment is tested not just by the diagnosis but by his own social pressures (Olivia, the press). His unwavering belief in loving Kathy in the present, without guarantees for the future, is the defining quality of his character and the film's highest thematic strength. His reaction to the misdiagnosis is one of pure, unadulterated relief, devoid of any resentment for the wasted emotional energy—a sign of true character.

C. Uche Jombo’s Role (The Mother): The Heart of Conflict

Uche Jombo, as Kathy's mother, is a force of nature. She embodies the "protective Nigerian parent" trope, but imbues it with genuine, raw fear. Her constant attempts to push Kathy back to the familiar, flawed Bruce, while wildly misguided, stem from a credible source: a mother’s terror of her child dying alone or at the hands of a stranger. Her suspicion of Manny, fueled by cultural mistrust of 'quick wealth', is a vital source of conflict. Jombo's final, humbling apology to Manny is the emotional climax of the family subplot, demonstrating character growth that feels authentic and deeply satisfying.

D. Chemistry: A Love Built on Time and Trust

The chemistry between Okunzuwa and Arukwe is palpable, evolving quickly from intense attraction to enduring devotion. The urgency of Kathy's limited time compresses their romantic timeline, yet their connection feels earned. The emotional foundation is trust: Manny's trust in his feelings despite the diagnosis, and Kathy’s trust in his sincerity despite her mother’s warnings. This solid emotional foundation allows the happy ending to truly resonate.

4. Technical and Thematic Critique: Nollywood’s Polished Lens

A. Technical Aspects

"THE LAST DAYS OF ALWAYS" operates at a high technical standard typical of polished modern Nollywood productions. The cinematography is sleek, utilizing affluent settings and warm lighting to enhance the romantic aesthetic. While the film relies heavily on dialogue (as is common for the genre), the score is emotionally effective, swelling appropriately during moments of crisis and calm. The only notable technical flaw—the faulty MRI machine—is cleverly integrated into the narrative as a plot device, rather than existing as a simple continuity error.

B. Themes: Love, Life, and Misfortune

The film champions several powerful themes:

Carpe Diem (Seize the Day): This is the most overt theme, manifested in Manny's insistence that they live fully, regardless of the diagnosis.

Love in the Face of Adversity: The central thesis—a love so strong it can thrive under a death sentence.

Trust and Suspicion: The conflict between Kathy's personal intuition about Manny and her mother's cultural and parental suspicion forms a robust thematic counterpoint.

Medical Malpractice/Misdiagnosis: While leading to a happy end, the film subtly touches on the catastrophic real-world consequences of faulty equipment and human error in medical settings, giving the melodrama a relevant modern edge.

C. Message/Resolution: A Twist that Justifies the Tears

The reveal of the misdiagnosis is the film's riskiest structural choice. However, because the love between Kathy and Manny was so thoroughly tested while they believed in the tragedy, the happy reversal feels like a hard-won reward, not a cheap narrative trick. The film earns its happy ending. The epilogue, showing them happily married and co-heading Manny's foundation (with Kathy rightfully called the "real hero"), is a perfect full stop—it validates their journey and establishes their commitment beyond personal romance into a shared, purposeful life.

5. Overall Critical Assessment: Earning the Melodrama

"THE LAST DAYS OF ALWAYS" is a triumph of emotional storytelling, proving that a well-executed melodrama can be deeply satisfying.

• Strengths:
1. Outstanding Performances: The chemistry and emotional depth delivered by Okunzuwa and Arukwe are compelling.
2. The Misdirection Device: The use of the faulty MRI as a crucible for character testing is narratively clever and highly effective.
3. The Mother Subplot: Uche Jombo’s performance and the authentic cultural conflict she introduces ground the high-society romance.

• Weaknesses:

1. Predictability of Tropes: The ex-boyfriend as a drug trafficker is a slightly predictable villain archetype.
2. Initial Melodrama: The first 20 minutes occasionally rely too heavily on visual cues of sadness before the script fully takes hold.
3. Quick Resolution of Olivia: Olivia's corporate rivalry plot is resolved slightly too swiftly for a character built up as a major antagonist.

 

My Recommendation:................  4/5 Stars.

This is a must-watch for fans of heartfelt, high-stakes romance and modern Nollywood drama. It will make you cry, gasp, and ultimately cheer for a love that conquered not just adversity, but the very clock of life itself.

Click 'Play' on "THE LAST DAYS OF ALWAYS" now. Just make sure you have a box of tissues ready for the emotional rollercoaster that earned its beautiful, hard-won ending.

 

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