Tales from the Screening Room: Behind the Heart

In 2010, I rated Stene Production’s debut movie, ‘Summary’ as the worst movie I saw that year and with good reason. However after seeing the screening of their second production, ‘Behind the Heart’, I have hope that the production house headed by former model,  Efe Tamunor Stene will grow to make some good movies in the future.

‘Behind the Heart’ tells the story of a good looking guy, Maxwell, who has to make a living as a ‘house boy’ in the wealthy home of a woman with two daughters. Humble Maxwell served the household diligently but the younger of the daughters (Becky) tries everything to make life unbearable for Maxwell until her attention was drawn to Maxwell’s good looks by a friend (Vera). The older daughter (Kimora) first falls in love Maxwell’s intelligence and personality and does everything to make life comfortable for Maxwell.  Maxwell gets entangled in a love web of two sisters? What would the sisters do to win Maxwell’s heart? Who would Maxwell choose in the end?

I think the story was quite beautiful but the flow needed a lot of work. There were too many scenes that ended up being figments of the character’s imagination and added very little to the story. Also, the part where the former girlfriend of a young man pursuing the heart of Becky comes to town  trying to win the guy’s heart was not very relevant to the story; even the guy wasn’t so relevant to the story.  Overall, the level of acting was not bad but some of the dialogues were a bit too surreal.

‘Behind the Heart’ is directed by Mac Collins Chidiebe and Willie Ajenge, and it stars John Dumelo, David Osei, Uche Elendu, Vivienne Achor, Efe Stene and Veeda Darko. It premieres at the Silverbird Cinema May 27.