“Kill Boro” Offers A Raw, Unflinching Look at Family Trauma in Nigeria

“Kill Boro” is a challenging exploration of family trauma set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s troubled Delta region. While the film’s provocative title might suggest a straightforward revenge thriller, Courage Obayuwana’s work offers a more nuanced, if sometimes uneven, examination of cycles of violence and the possibility of redemption.

Set against the backdrop of Nigeria’s oil-rich, poverty-stricken Delta region, “Kill Boro” tells the story of Elijah (Kosisochukwu Ogboruche), a teenage boy driven to the unthinkable: plotting the murder of his own father, Boro (Philip Asaya). It’s a premise that could easily veer into exploitation territory, but Obayuwana and screenwriter Priye Diri navigate these treacherous waters with surprising nuance.

Asaya’s Boro is a force of nature, a hulking, bearded nightmare of a man whose very presence fills the cramped family home with dread. But he’s not the cartoon villain you might expect. There are flashes of tenderness – a meal cooked for his wife, a blanket draped over his sleeping son – that hint at the man he could have been, had life dealt him a different hand. It’s a sort of proof to Asaya’s acting skills that we find ourselves, against our better judgment, hoping for Boro’s redemption even as we recoil from his brutality.

Ini Dima-Okojie is a revelation as Boma, Boro’s long-suffering wife. Known for more glamorous roles, Dima-Okojie disappears into this character, her eyes carrying the weight of years of abuse and shattered dreams. A scene where she celebrates a rare financial windfall, jumping with childlike glee, is both heart-warming and heartbreaking – a glimpse of the joy that’s been crushed out of her over the years.

Kosiso Ogboruche (as Elijah) has the toughest job of all, and he mostly rises to the challenge. His journey from a scared, angry boy to someone capable of contemplating patricide is believably rendered, even if some of his motivations occasionally feel muddled.

Visually, “Kill Boro” is a feast for the eyes, if not always a pleasant one. The Cinematographer, Motheo Moeng paints Azuama (the film’s fictional stand-in for Port Harcourt) in sickly teals and oranges, creating a world that feels perpetually on the edge of decay. Handheld camerawork adds to the sense of unease, making us feel as off-balance as the characters themselves.

The film’s use of sound is particularly inspired. A recurring motif of a ticking watch serves as both a literal plot point and a metaphor for the ticking time bomb of Boro’s violence. The authentic Pidgin English spoken by the characters adds depth and texture to the world-building, though some viewers might struggle with the dialect.

That said, “Kill Boro” is not without its flaws. The pacing in the second act drags, and the final resolution feels a bit too neat given the messy realities the film has established. Some supporting characters, particularly the gang leaders Elijah encounters, verge on caricature. And while the film’s refusal to shy away from the realities of domestic violence is admirable, there are moments when it teeters on the edge of trauma porn.

Yet, despite these missteps, “Kill Boro” remains a powerful, thought-provoking work. It’s a film that forces us to confront uncomfortable truths about cycles of violence, the corrosive effects of poverty, and the possibility of redemption even for those who seem beyond saving.

Especially with this current time where Nollywood is often dismissed as lightweight entertainment, “Kill Boro” showcases the industry’s growing maturity and ambition. It’s not an easy watch by any means, but for those willing to engage with its challenging subject matter, it offers rewards that linger long after the credits roll.

Is “Kill Boro” a perfect film? No, but it is a film of contrasts – ambitious in scope yet sometimes faltering in execution, unflinching in its portrayal of violence yet occasionally veering towards melodrama. Obayuwana shows promise as a director, particularly in his visual storytelling and ability to draw strong performances from his cast.

Release Date: May 30, 2024

Runtime: 2 hours, 17 minutes

Streaming Service: Prime Video

Director: Courage Obayuwana

Cast: Phillip Asaya, Ini-Dima Okojie, Kosiso Ogboruche, Greg Ojefua, Blessing Uzero, Beloved Osagie, Michael Dappa, and Hilda Dokubo