A Yoruba Tale of Courage and Betray - Review of Jagun Jagun

Plot

Jagun Jagun is the Yoruba name for Warriors. This movie captures the life of a young man, Gbotija, whose home was taken from him at a young age. He witnessed the death of his dad and the rest of the villagers when he was much younger. He couldn't do anything to save his hometown and his family so he swore to become a warrior so he can always keep his future loved ones safe when the need arises.

Gbotija, the upcoming warrior

He had a wonderful gift, and that was the ability to speak with trees. His family passed it down to him. He knew all of the trees by name and was always able to make them do his bidding when he was in a dangerous position.

But he noticed the ability to speak to trees wasn't the only gift he needed if he intended to make sure history did not repeat itself. He resolved to be trained in the art and skills of the sword and he did very well at it.

Ogundiji, a feared warrior

He was an outstanding warrior but the king of warriors, Ogundiji, felt his position was threatened when Gbotija begins to fan attention from the people who had worshiped him more than anyone in the world. He tries to sacrifice Gbotija to keep his power as the only respected and feared warrior.

This clearly did not end well for him because his wife helped bring him down when she discovered she had been cheated and betrayed by Ogundiji.

Review

This movie is emotional and I would warn you to have a handkerchief handy if you are planning to see it. I'll give the writer and director a 4/5 for a job well done. I have a feeling if there would be a Grammarly award for the best native movie of the year, it would be Jagun Jagun. They did a great job of sticking to the Yoruba dialect throughout the scenes. The different film tricks that aided the graphics of some of the scenes that required it was top-notch.

This effect was perfect when Agemo, the monster that was depicted as a warmonger, war-hungry and bloodthirsty was introduced to take over wars that felt too difficult for the warriors. And it was incredibly top-notch when Agemo was sent to kill Gbotija by Ogundiji because all three death trials he assigned to him did not work as Gbotija came out of each of them successfully.

I also admired the courage of Ogundiji's wife to take matters into her hands when she realized he betrayed her by having a child out of wedlock after she was willing to sacrifice her womb to make him powerful. Maybe, if he did not send the only daughter she came to call her own, Kita, on a journey of no return, she would have forgiven him. But Ogundiji had been so heartless and power thirsty that he turned his adopted child, Kitan into Agemo, the warmonger.

The only point I felt bad and did not completely like is the death of Kitan. I know all of the series of events was supposed to lead to Ogundiji paying for all of his bad deeds but I hated the fact that Kitan had to be sacrificed for it. It made me feel as though Gbotija did not get to perform the duties of a warrior, the very reason he came to learn to become a warrior was defeated because, in the end, he lost the love of his life. He couldn't protect her from dying, just as he couldn't protect his family and his village from dying under the sword of Ogundiji.

Overall, Jagun Jagun is a fine native movie and it's worth watching more than just once. I have a feeling if I had the chance I would see it again and again. It's filled with lessons and any angle you choose to see it from in terms of perspective, you will learn a thing or two about life. I'll give this movie a 4 stars out of 5 ratings.

_{PS: images are screenshots from the different trailers found on Netflix Facebook page.}

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