SYNOPSIS
Having grown up in a world where corruption and greed
over-ride all else, life-long friends Bode and Obi
decide to repent from their way of life when they
encounter a near death experience following a botched
scam.
They cut their ties with megalomaniacal boss (Dele)
and his domineering girlfriend (who has a soft spot
for Bode) and form their own partnership with a view
of leaving their corrupt world for good.
Life as a ‘good’ citizen proves a difficult
experience for the guys and they plan to do one more
job, behind Dele’s back, to raise the funds
that would ease them into a lifestyle of Godliness.
But their plans fall apart before it’s began
when against their better judgement, they work a scam
on Dele’s turf, the scam back-fires, and he
finds out about it. The friends are then faced with
a life or death situation as they search for an escape
route whilst hiding from the clutches of Dele’s
henchmen.
And as the sun fades on the bustling city of Lagos,
Bode and Obi are put to test about the true value
of their friendship with the ultimate question: How
far would you go to save the life of your friend...?
Set in the inner city of Lagos, AREA BOYS is a fast-paced
coming of age drama about the loss of innocence, the
advent of hope and the true value of friendship.
BACKGROUND/ ISSUE
Area Boys is part of a trilogy of short films chronicling
the 3 stages (beginning, middle, end) in the journey
of asylum seekers from West Africa to the ‘promised’
lands of Europe.
It examines the ‘harsh’ environment a
majority of young Africans grown up in, forcing them
to leave their countries for the promise of a better
life at all costs. Corruption is now a by-word for
survival in most parts of Africa. Area Boys examines
its effects on the young generation and how this trend
can be reversed to bring back the hope of change.
THEMES
THE ‘SPIRITUAL’ JOURNEY
The essence of the film is the spiritual journey Bode
and Obi go through. Area Boys examines the themes
of life being one of purpose, which the boys are not
at first conscious of. Their experiences -some bordering
on near death -make them aware that life is something
of value to cherish.
I have always been fascinated by the idea of the
‘spiritual’ journey. I believe that every
human being was created for a purpose, and that knowing
your journey is a big step to the realisation of your
purpose.
Bode and Obi have spent their lives in limbo until
a chain of events sets them on a course where to stop
and look back would spell their doom. Their haphazard
journey through life is that of escapism. But even
that does not guarantee safe passage. Their salvation
comes from the spiritual journey they embark on. The
flight to rid themselves of the shackles of a lifetime
of corruption becomes a journey to freedom.
THE TRUE MEANING OF FRIENDSHIP
The second theme explored in Area Boys is that freedom
comes at a price. Dele and his henchmen are closing
in and eventually capture one of the friends.
The captured friend has one of two choices: Lose
a body part and tell where the other friend is, or
be killed.
In the meantime the other friend finds himself in
a dilemma. Does he continue and flee the country or
go back and rescue his friend?
