Overall Rating: .................. (4/5 Stars)
Introduction: A New Era of Nollywood Psychological Drama
In the bustling landscape of contemporary Nollywood, where "glam-coms" and slapstick humor often dominate the box office and streaming charts, finding a film that sits comfortably in the seat of a slow-burn psychological thriller is a rare gem. Letting You Go, directed by the visionary Biodun Stephen and featuring the incomparable Bimbo Ademoye, is not just a movie; it is an excavation of the Nigerian domestic psyche.
As a veteran analyst of African cinema, I have watched Nollywood transition from the grainy VCD era of the 90s to the high-definition, color-graded brilliance of the 2020s. Yet, the soul of a good Nigerian film remains its ability to hold a mirror to our societal quirks, our desperation for family, and the dangerous masks we wear in the name of love. Letting You Go does this with a precision that is as uncomfortable as it is captivating.
The Hook: The Dream That Becomes a Cage
The film opens with a sequence that feels intentionally soft, almost idyllic. We are introduced to a woman whose life is defined by a singular, aching void: the desire for motherhood. In Nigeria, the social currency of a woman is often tied to her ability to produce an heir, and Letting You Go leans heavily into this cultural pressure without being cliché.
Enter Benjamin (played with a chilling, calculated charm). On paper, he is the "Intentional Man" that Nigerian Twitter (X) dreams of. He is attentive, he listens, and he moves with a level of purpose that immediately disarms our protagonist. The chemistry in the first act is palpable, built through lingering close-ups and warm lighting that suggests safety. But as any seasoned Nollywood viewer knows, when the "Perfect Man" arrives too quickly, the devil is usually in the details.
Cinematography: Elevating the Emotional Stakes
Technically, Letting You Go is a triumph of visual storytelling. The cinematography moves away from the static "TV-style" wide shots that plague many budget productions. Instead, we see a deliberate use of tight framing and shallow depth of field.
When the protagonist is happy, the world is wide and bright. However, as Benjamin’s gaslighting begins to take root, the camera work becomes increasingly claustrophobic. We see more extreme close-ups of Bimbo Ademoye’s face—capturing every micro-expression, every flicker of doubt in her eyes, and the subtle trembling of her lips. This visual shift effectively traps the audience in her growing anxiety. The color grading also deserves a nod; the transition from the golden hues of their early romance to the colder, desaturated tones of the domestic "prison" Benjamin creates is a masterclass in mood setting.
Sound Design: The Silence That Screams
One of the greatest critiques of Nollywood has historically been poor sound mixing—either the background music drowns out the dialogue, or the room tone is inconsistent. Letting You Go avoids these pitfalls. The dialogue is crisp, capturing the nuances of code-switching between formal English and the familiar comfort of Pidgin.
More importantly, the film uses silence as a weapon. There are scenes where the absence of a musical score amplifies the tension of a simmering argument. When the music does kick in, it isn't the melodramatic "African magic" cues of old; it is a haunting, atmospheric score that underscores the protagonist’s isolation. The sound design successfully makes the house feel like a character—a silent witness to the psychological warfare being waged within its walls.
Character Analysis: Bimbo Ademoye and the Art of Vulnerability
Let’s talk about Bimbo Ademoye. While she is often celebrated for her comedic timing, Letting You Go proves she is one of the most formidable dramatic actresses of her generation. Her portrayal of a woman being slowly dismantled from the inside out is heartbreaking. She doesn't just play a victim; she plays a woman trying to negotiate her way out of a nightmare while holding onto her dignity.
The transition from a hopeful lover to a woman realizing she has been used as a "human incubator" is handled with incredible nuance. There is a specific scene where she discovers the truth about Benjamin’s wife in America—her reaction isn't just a loud, theatrical scream. It’s a quiet, visceral collapse that feels far more real and devastating.
The supporting cast, particularly Blessing Nze Obasi, provides the necessary grounding. The dialogue feels natural, devoid of the stilted, "bookish" English that often ruins the immersion in Nigerian dramas. These characters talk like us, argue like us, and lie like us.
Narrative Structure: The Slow Descent into Deception
The pacing of the film is its strongest asset. Often, Nollywood films rush the "falling in love" phase to get to the "suffering" phase. Letting You Go takes its time. It lets us fall for Benjamin’s facade so that when the mask eventually slips, the betrayal hurts the audience just as much as it hurts the protagonist.
The plot logic remains largely intact, which is a breath of fresh air. Benjamin’s motivations—rooted in his desire to satisfy his legal and emotional obligations to his American-based wife—are chillingly believable. This reflects a very real Nigerian reality: the "double life" of the diaspora man. The film critiques the "Any Work" (Do Anything) mentality that some men adopt to secure a green card or financial stability abroad, often at the expense of the women they leave (or find) back home.
Thematic Depth: Cultural Expectations and the ‘Surrogacy’ Trap
At its core, Letting You Go explores the commodification of the female body. By framing Benjamin’s betrayal around the birth of a child, the film taps into the deep-seated Nigerian fear of being "used" for one’s womb. It also touches on:
The Gaslighting Culture: How men use "love" and "protection" as tools of isolation.
The Diaspora Divide: The tension between the life built in Nigeria and the life (and secrets) held in the West.
Financial Control: How Benjamin uses his status as a provider to strip the protagonist of her agency.
Production Design: Authenticity in Every Frame
The set design feels lived-in. The protagonist’s home doesn't look like a sterile movie set; it looks like a middle-class Nigerian apartment, complete with the right props and decor. The costuming is equally intentional. We see the protagonist’s style shift from vibrant and expressive to muted and practical as she loses herself in the relationship. These small details add layers of authenticity that elevate the film from a mere "home video" to a cinematic experience.
The Verdict: A Must-Watch with a Warning
If there is any critique to be had, it is that the final resolution feels slightly hurried compared to the masterful slow-burn of the first two acts. I would have loved to see a bit more of the legal fallout, but the emotional payoff is nonetheless satisfying.
Letting You Go is a sobering reminder that not everything that glitters in the name of love is gold. It is a film that will spark conversations in living rooms across the country and in the diaspora. It challenges us to look closer at the people we let into our lives and to recognize the red flags before they become a cage.
Who should watch this film?
Fans of intense psychological dramas.
Anyone who appreciates Bimbo Ademoye’s range as an actress.
Couples (though it might lead to some very difficult conversations!).
Students of film looking for a masterclass in Nollywood pacing and character development.
My Thoughts
Letting You Go is a landmark for CASTLE CREW TV and a testament to the growth of Nollywood. It respects the audience’s intelligence and refuses to offer easy, sugary-sweet answers to complex human problems.
Call-to-Watch: Do not sleep on this one. Head over to YouTube, grab some popcorn, and prepare to be unsettled. This is Nollywood at its most honest and most haunting.
Watch now on CASTLE CREW TV.
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