MOVIE REVIEW: Lessons of the Heart tells a needed story, even if it isn’t new

The film may not offer anything new, but it delivers its message with clarity and heart.

Produced by Uchenna Mbunabo and directed by Alexandra Kure’ave Hul and Uchenna Mbunabo, ‘Lessons of the Heart’ is a modest but emotionally engaging Nigerian film that explores love, ambition, and personal choice within a rural setting.

Through the lives of Amaka, her family, her tutor Chijioke, and the NYSC corper Tosin, the movie presents a familiar but relatable struggle between societal expectations and individual dreams.

With a cast that includes Uchenna Mbunabo, Bright Morgan, Charity Omah, Chinedum Odiaka, and Faith Okeh, the movie illustrates how parental control and personal desires can compromise the freedom and future of young people in society.

Plot

Amaka (Uche Montana) is a young girl preparing for her JAMB exam. She attends weekend lessons taught by Chijioke (Bright Morgan). At this time, her mother (Charity Omah) wants her to marry Uche (Chinedum Odiaka), a rich and kind man in the village. Amaka, however, likes Chijioke and helps him with house chores to show her feelings.

Amaka’s hope is broken when Chijioke becomes interested in Tosin (Faith Okeh), a new NYSC corper in the village. To be closer to her crush and tutor, Amaka refuses marriage and tells her mother she wants to focus on schooling, which leads to her later confessing her love to Chijioke, who turns her down.

Moreover, Tosin later returns to her old boyfriend, breaking the romantic expectations of Chijioke. Afterwards, Chijioke tries to return to Amaka.

Desperately, Chijioke lies to Amaka’s mother that Amaka could commit suicide if forced into marriage. As a result, the mother ends Amaka’s relationship with Uche and sends her back to private lessons in Chijioke’s house.

Amaka later discovers Chijioke’s lie and chooses her own path. She leaves all to focus on her education and future.

Societal ill

Societally, Amaka’s main problem is the pressure from her mother to marry Uche rather than focusing on her education. At the same time, Amaka has feelings for her lesson teacher, Chijioke, which is a misplaced priority for someone who has failed JAMB three times previously.

Her confusion and pain grow when Chijioke turns his attention to Tosin, the new NYSC corper in the village. The movie illustrates how parents sometimes impose their wishes on their children without considering their children’s dreams. It includes misplaced priorities among younger people rushing into romantic relationships without a clear future in sight.

Chijioke and Tosin’s relationship shows selfishness and a lack of honesty. Meanwhile, Tosin also keeps Chijioke’s hope of a relationship high only when she has problems with her boyfriend.

Review

The actions of the characters show how people can use others for their own benefit. Some scenes are dramatic, and a few events feel rushed, but they still convey a clear message.

Ultimately, the movie conveys a powerful lesson: Amaka learns to stop living for others.

Other events add drama to the movie, including a taxi dispute between Tosin and a Taxi driver (Emeka Odika) before Chijioke intervenes, and arguments between Amaka and her brother, Ekene (Christian Effiong), who also prefers Uche as the best suitor for Amaka.

Finally, the setting, use of local language, and simple village lifestyle ground the story in realism. This makes the characters’ dilemmas feel original despite the straightforward plot.

Even though the JAMB students look more mature than real candidates, which signalled an error in parts of the movie’s casting, the movie still teaches essential lessons about patience, self-respect, and choosing the right path in life.

Verdict: 7/10