MOVIE REVIEW: LOVE IN EVERY WORD
Title: Love in Every Word
Director: Stanley Obi
Producer: Omoni Oboli
Cast: Uzor Arukwe, Olawummi Ademibuyan, Osereme Inegbenegbe, Amanda Irielepen, Thelma Chukwunwen, Susan Jimah, Daniel Rockky
Genre: Romance Drama
Release Date: May 7, 2025
Country: Nigeria
Language: English and Igbo
Duration: 1 hour, 55 minutes
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SYNOPSIS
Love in Every Word centers around Chioma, a strong, career-driven woman living in Lagos, heading the marketing department of a company. She's used to fending for herself, especially in her relationships, where she often ends up as the provider. Things take a dramatic turn when she visits her hometown, Anambra, for her sister's engagement. Her mother tries to arrange a meeting with a suitor, but Chioma, resistant, hides—only to bump into the very man she was being set up with.
Their meeting is both unexpected and revealing, as he confidently tells her, "I will marry you." His self-assuredness stands out, especially compared to the men from Chioma's past. As the story unfolds, Chioma finds herself falling for this so-called Odogwu, but old traumas from her childhood begin to interfere. Her new lover’s actions and personality begin to reflect memories of her father, whom she had a troubled relationship with. This emotional conflict causes her to pull back, even though deep down she wants to love freely.
Eventually, the truth behind her fear of choosing love is revealed—she was always used to doing the providing, but this new man wants to take care of her. He believes Igbo men love to spoil their women and don’t appreciate when their women overwork themselves—especially when their men have enough to provide. This clashed with her independent nature and past experience.
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THEMES AND COMMENTARY
The movie explores several deep themes—love, trauma, independence, cultural expectations, and healing. It portrays the struggle of a modern, professional woman trying to find balance between love and her past pain. The emotional layers of Chioma’s journey are expressed not just through dialogue, but through powerful, heartfelt performances.
One unforgettable scene is when he visits her office and starts a conversation that brings her to tears. It powerfully shows how deeply in love she was, but her past wouldn’t let her express it. He says, "I can’t continue to beat a drum that makes no pleasant sound," walking away with dignity and self-respect. This moment was intense and reflective of real-life emotional battles, and it elevated the film’s depth. Uzor Arukwe’s performance, especially his persistence and confidence in pursuing love, kept the movie engaging and realistic.
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PERSONAL REACTION
I must be honest—I underestimated this movie. I thought it was overhyped and avoided watching it for a while. But after finally watching it, I realized how wrong I was. It reminded me of the saying, “You only hate what you don’t understand.” Now that I understand, I genuinely love this film. Interesting, right?
Love in Every Word is a must-watch for every lover of Nigerian romance dramas. Whether you're young or old, there's a lesson to learn—depending on the lens you view it from. Everyone will take away something different, and that’s the beauty of storytelling. It truly speaks love not just in dialogue, but in action and emotion.
I owe myself a big knock for underestimating it.
