I was few seconds into watching the trailer for Ekene Som Mekwunye’s upcoming film Light in The Dark when I realised that I didn’t know what the story was about. Then I heard Kalu Ikeagwu’s character say lightly to Rita Dominic’s character: “Let’s celebrate East meeting West.” To be honest, I was thinking he was going to say “Let’s make love under the sunset!” and I was already preparing myself for an eye roll. Though a cheesy line, Kalu Ikeagwu can say anything and make it sound good and believable. And this was just after Joke Silva, who is playing a figure of authority in Rita Dominic’s life, says to her in quiet frustration: “Why can’t you find a Yoruba boy?”

Under 10 seconds, I had already figured out the film, and I briefly existed in a bubble of self-congratulation because not everyone has the powers of deduction. If the trailer for Light in The Dark feels familiar though, it’s because you have seen a movie like it over a 100 times. And, trust me, more are merrily still coming your way. From the trailer, Light in The Dark is already burdened by the marriage theme, and, in this case, an inter-tribal relationship. Nothing cinematically novel about that. But my only concern is Rita Dominic, looking helpless and quietly traumatised by something in the closing shots.

Speaking about the movie, Mekwunye said in a statement, “The film would show the effects of domestic violence and why it does to women and more importantly, how best victims can handle it. The film also shows a little of the friction in inter-tribal marriages and the way men look at issues in marriages.”

Light in the Dark flaunts a big cast: Ngozi Nwosu, Cool FM’s Mannie, Kiki Omeili, Nonso Odogwu, Abimbola Ademoye, Big Mickey, Prince Unigwe, Angel Oyinyechi, Doddy Ability, Richard Kanayo Mekwunye, Maxwell Ihuoma and Marie Awolaja. Out in cinemas January 25, 2019, check out the trailer below.