True Affection
From the Archives
•
Drama, Short Films, 07-Jul-2025
Scrutinized for being single, a young woman living in Lagos finds a suitable admirer but a strange presence in her dreams makes things complicated. Wale Matuluko directs “True Affection,” a monochrome drama capturing the low-key gymnastics and social pressures of dating in the Nigerian city center. Sewa, a 26-year-old woman adrift in her ennui, gets lunch with her aunt. Her aunt tells her that she needs to find someone before she turns 30, but Sewa thinks that’s unlikely. In the car ride home, the young woman receives wire transfers and flirtatious messages from a long distance admirer from her past. At home, her roommate tells her she’s planning on inviting some friends over for her birthday including a guy who’s always asking about her. The possibility of romantic chemistry between the two germinates; however, dreamlike sequences suggest Sewa’s heart might be elsewhere. Shifting between dialogue between the two young women to the chatter of the young men, and on to the party itself, the film captures youthful reflections on entering one’s 30s and evolving definitions of partnership. -JM. Director: Wale Matuluko. Cast: Funmbi Toye, Charles Lenny, Maryann Ivy Amakor, Adebayo “Royale” Oloko, Chinedu J. Orjiudeh. Director of Photography: Granville Wilson. Producers: Wale Matuluko, Ugochukwu Azuya. Colourist: Calvin Bellas. Sound Designer: Bennett Kerr.
Up Next in From the Archives
-
Lightstreet
A date to see the fireworks on the Fourth of July turns into a weird night of discovery for a shy teenage girl. “Lightstreet,” directed by Billie Michael, is an understated coming-of-age drama that captures the awkwardness and uncertainties of youth in a quiet small town. The young couple wanders...
-
Cinema Brut
Setting out to “make a movie” on the streets of NYC, a man recruits strangers to act alongside him in “movie scenes”. Using a hidden camera prank show format, “Cinema Brut” is notable for capturing the strange ways people respond when asked to perform, and for the highly committed performance by ...
-
wasting time at the end of the world
A lonely comedian prepares for a virtual stand up act. Milos Mitrovic directs “wasting time at the end of the world,” co-written by and starring Alex Ateah, a sadly funny glimpse into our new Covid reality and digital connections that fail to replicate the real deal. Just ordering a pizza becomes...
