Movie Review: Citation

Hey folks! I welcome you to another edition of our movie review on the most popular entertainment blog, Regcity News Blog (RNB). Last time, we reviewed the movie O`lo`tu`re or Endurance and I'm sure you all enjoyed the review. If you missed out, don't worry. You can catch up by clicking here.

This time around, we will be reviewing another Nollywood movie called Citation. This movie was released in .. The movie is produced by Golden Effects and directed by Kunle Afolayan. The movie features cast like Temi Otedola, Jimmy Jean-Louis, Ini Edo, Adjetey Anag, Bukunmi Oluwashina, Joke Silva, Gabriel Afolayan, Sadiq Daba, and so many other stars.

As we always do, we will be analyzing the plot, settings, characters and characterization, as well as the shortcomings. Don't go anywhere.

Plot and Settings

Educative, entertaining, didactic, are what I describe the movie, Citation. The scenes of the movie were sequentially arranged, with one scene leading to the other. It started with a flashback, an event that happened involving a male professor who tried indulging sex for marks, and then moved to the present. Part of the present was also told in flashbacks. I must say the back and forth style is impressive and well thought.

The movie, which was privately set in the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria, talks about students who are preparing to earn their Master Degrees in Internal Relations. However, the movie focused on Moremi, (played by Temi Otedola). The movie was also set in other countries like Cape Verde and Senegal.

Moremi is the youngest amongst her course mates, and by far, the most brilliant, which earned her eulogies from her friends, including professors. Prof. Lucien N'Dyare (played by Jimmy Jean-Louis) is hired to become the new associate professor of the department. Although his CV is impeccably exceptional, he's known to have issues with assaulting student, something his employers never knew. 

The professor was fascinated by Moremi's intelligence and immediately sought ways to make her his, a plan which Moremi was ignorant of. She fell for it, and it almost led to her dismissal and termination of the program.

Moremi goes on a trip with some of the students to Cape Verde and Senegal, and it was there that things began looking awkward. First, Prof. Lucien attempts to kiss her, and later, he attempts to rape her in one of the parties he organized for his students. 

Who really did believe that she was indeed raped by a renowned professor with three Masters? Not even Koyejo, her boyfriend (played by Gabi Afolayan) was convinced of her innocence after he has warned her of the danger of eing to close to a professor of the opposite sex.

The hallmark of the movie, or should I say the climax involved the scene where Moremi and Prof. Lucien appeared before the University's senate for hearing. Facts upon facts, attacks and counterattacks, everything that you could imagine happening in a court room happened in the Senate. The vindication of Moremi signified that rape, assault, impartiality can be stopped if everyone talked boldly.

Assault and sex for marks are two leading vices that are common in higher institutions. The production crew had one thing in mind while filming this movie - to drive home a point that these vices can be stopped with the power of the voice. They didn't fail in doing that utterly.

The plot's transition was impeccable. The production team did quite well on this, and I wouldn't be surprised if the movie gets the nod at the AMAA.

Characters and Characterization

The performance of the actors were great, most especially Temi Otedola, who was playing the lead actress for the first time in her career. In fact, Citation was her debut movie. For a novice in acting, she did quite extraordinarily. And her French? Though she lacked the accent a little, she spoke so fluently.

The lead actor, professor, played by had a good performance. His calm and calculated personality made him look innocent in the eyes of the people. One more thing, his French accent was outstanding. He communicated most times in French with Moremi and you could see the two enjoying the flow. I too enjoyed the French even though I practically didn't understand an iota of what they were saying.

Kwesi, (played by Adjetey Anag) and Gloria, (played by Ini Edo) are Moremi's best friends. Gloria later began a relationship with the professor, but it was short-lived.

Koyejo, (played by Gabriel Afolayan) is Moremi's boyfriend who was always advising her against being too close to professor. His testimony contributed to Moremi's vindication.

Downsides and Shortcomings

Dialogue was the major downside of the movie, particularly the scenes involving Moremi and Prof. Lucien. They had their dialogue in French and there was no translation for that. This pissed some of the viewers, including me who didn't understand or speak French.

Although it wasn't so crucial to the movie, the parts involving Koyejo and Moremi needed translation as well, as not everyone understood the Yoruba language.

Our Verdict

Citation is a great movie with lots of morals to learn. It also proves that everyone possess the power to end vices and corrupt practices, which has become the order of the day. The movie is great, from the plot to the setting, acting to the conversations, everything was super. As far as I know, it ended well, even though it was expected.