I was a bit lost while watching this movie. The film's setup begins in the United States, but the whole story is based in Nigeria. I'll generalize this review to touch on various aspects.

The cinematography and costumes are on point, accurately reflecting the culture and era of 20th-century Nigeria. However, the furniture seemed off to me, as they mostly portrayed the early 21st century, which felt inconsistent with the setting.

The storyline started off well, where I expected more action from the revenge of a one-man army. Unfortunately, it soon switched to a drama focusing on several subplots: building a good connection with a broken man, evangelism, a poor boy falling in love with a rich girl, and a recovered broken man making humane sacrifices he wouldn't have done before. This shift in the narrative felt jarring and detracted from the initial excitement.

In all, the movie is hyped. To me, it was overhyped in Liberia, and I may have expected too much. I would have given it a 4/10, but for the sake of maintaining a higher score for an African movie, I'm biased to give it a 6/10.

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.

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.