At its heart, Cafe Edebiri explores love, loss, healing and self-discovery. Starring Nkem Owoh and Bolaji Ogunmola, we are graced with a true reflection of a strong father-daughter bond.
Pa Edebiri (Nkem Owoh) is a resilient man who has a passion for cooking. His health appears to have declined, given his age, but he still chooses to create magic in the kitchen. His daughter, Imade (Bolaji Ogunmola), fears for his health, but she can’t get through to him to take a break. Their relationship appears sweet and strong, given that he raised her for most of her life.
On the other hand, Imade has an estranged relationship with her mother, Alero (Tina Mba). Alero is Pa Edebiri’s ex-wife, and it was revealed that they weren’t on good terms in the past. It seems Alero abandoned Imade and this births bitterness in her heart.
Imade later reconnects with Zany Green (Eso Dike), her childhood sweetheart. They have dinner with Pa Edebiri, where they try to convince him to build his own restaurant. They honour his talent for cooking and encourage him to share it with the world. Pa Edebiri still chooses to stall. There seems to remain a spark between Imade and Zany, but Imade is hesitant.
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In later days, Imade faces the challenge of reconciling with her mother at her father’s request. She grows confused when she sees her parents getting along and convinces herself that her mother has an ulterior motive. Alero is left heartbroken at her daughter’s reaction and doesn’t know how to handle the situation.
Unfortunately, Imade’s greatest fear comes to life when her father passes. She remains in disbelief for a while and distances herself from everyone. Zany gets worried about her and tries to lift her spirits, but she resists. It turns out that Zany could possibly move back abroad for a job. For Imade, that would mean leaving her again (like before).
Imade eventually gets back on her feet and decides to bring her father’s dream restaurant to life. Her mother tries to show her support, but she refuses. Determined to keep her father’s legacy alive, Imade sourced investors to pitch her idea. The investors like her pitch but present their own twist. It doesn’t sit well with her, and she goes off on her own.
Zany rejects his job offer and stays back as the CFO of his mum’s company. He gives Imade the help she needs for her business idea. Together, they bring to life Cafe Edebiri, a monument to her father’s legacy. Imade finally makes an effort to make up with her mum.
The film is actually a journey of self-renovation. Imade carried scars from the losses she experienced with her mum, Alero, and Zany. Although it wasn’t made clear how Alero abandoned her, it affected her greatly. To the point where she gets triggered when she gets too close. Meanwhile, Zany had no control over his move in the past, and so a breakup was inevitable.
The passing of her father was the last straw, and the event that exposed the buried hurt she carried all the while. She had to realize her brokenness before she could heal completely.
Cafe Edebiri explores the themes of love, grief, family legacy and self-discovery. The love shared between Pa Edebiri and his daughter felt so authentic, and it draws you in naturally. Imade uses her grief as a transformative force to rebuild her life after loss. She goes on to honour his legacy by building on his passion while discovering herself.
Bolaji portrays Imade, a grieving daughter who embraces resilience to recover with great authenticity. Her performance didn’t include melodramatic episodes in the name of grief. Instead, she shows grief as a quiet and evolving season. She grows from insecure to empowered in the real sense. Her journey to self-renovation displays the significance of loss and pain.
Nkem’s role as Pa Edebiri is a rare sight, given his long history of roles in the movie industry. He portrays a loving and hardworking father so touchingly, and his warmth radiates throughout the film. His humour and subtle guidance in the movie balance the tensions that exist in the narrative.
Tina, as Alero, doesn’t have much background to her story, but her constant reappearance in Imade’s life reflected the maternal attachment that mothers have towards their children. Eso’s role as Zany embodies the emotional support that Imade needed. Both supporting roles added depth to the storyline of the protagonist. Their dynamic interplay contributed to the eventual transformation of Imade.
However, I wish there was a deeper dive into the history of Imade and her mum that erupted the conflict between them. I also felt that their reunion was rushed. There wasn’t enough progression in the evolution of their relationship.
Overall, the movie’s pacing was slow and deliberate. This gives the audience time to follow through with the grief of the protagonist up until her transformation. Some scenes lingered more than necessary, but the film carried the audience along and avoided rushing toward closure
The cinematography is great and sharp. The lighting choices cleverly present the scenes. The camera work is commendable. Close-up shots effectively capture the scenes of tears, resistance, and quiet strength, while wide shots present the grief scenes. The smooth transitions aid the narrative flow, though the occasional lingering risk slowing down the momentum.
Cafe Edebiri reflects the slow, painful, yet ultimately redemptive process of healing and self-discovery. I believe this is a decent watch, and it will make you appreciate your family more. For its emotional resonance, I’ll rate it a 7 out of 10. Catch up now on YouTube via Bolaji Ogunmola TV.
