Review – Jagun-Jagun. Is a “Portmanteau” film and it is a period piece by Rosaline Fadipe

Is a “Portmanteau” film and it is a period piece.

There are films with 1 plot, which one can watch with half ä concentration.

Jagun-Jagun does not have 1 plot…a “portmanteau film” is segmented, into little little plots all pulled together, so you really have to pay attention to detail.

Various battles in different Yoruba kingdoms of an earlier time.

If you studied the Kiriji wars in History, Yoruba or Political Science classes, you would have the advantage of some foreknowledge.

Each battle catalysed from incidents that happened elsewhere.

Who, won the war?!

The punchline is left, till the end…!!

So…

If you have a short attention span or you were not paying attention, and connecting the dots from the beginning…you won’t be able to put the pieces, together.

It’s like a jigsaw puzzle…it needs time, concentration and human analytics. Hasty people will miss its essence.

When I watch Yoruba films, I do it 3 times:

I watch it, in English first, because that’s my first language.

I then I watch it in Yoruba, because I can then ‘think’ in Yoruba…while I capture the essences and emotions of the proverbs, used.

I then watch it in English once again, to see how a foreign audience will interpret it.

Kill Bill and to some extent, Pulp Fiction – are good examples of portmanteau films and I must say, that the ability to successfully multitask in any form, IS an Art of its own.

Not everyone will like segmented films, I respect that, but I do, because I enjoy multiperspectivity it brings to the table.

The ability to flip ä perspective was necessary to be a good Debater in secondary school…I’m sure Ivor Ekpe will agree with that.

The Director of Jagun-Jagun can only get better…

Rosaline Writes from the UK