Last Flight to Abuja, a film about aviation challenges in Nigeria, is enjoying huge
success as it continues to release across Africa.
By the first week of October Last Flight to Abuja had been in Nigerian cinemas for
nine weeks, making it the longest running and highest grossing local film of the year.
At the end of September it opened in Ghanaian cinemas. It is headed for eastern
African countries Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania in November before releasing
in South Africa in December and North America late December.
The film was directed by Obi Emelonye, who wrote and produced, while Charles
Thompson co-produced.
Principal photography commenced in November 2011 in Lagos, although the film’s
script was written in 2007. After wrapping in mid-December, post-production
commenced and ended only a few days before the world premiere in June 2012.
States Emelonye: “We shot for three weeks in Lagos, two of which were at Lagos
Airport. We also shot for a few days in Abuja. It was not a very long shoot but our
limited budget forced us to be tactical.’
Last Flight to Abuja stars Hakeem Kae Kazim (Hotel Rwanda, Pirates of the
Caribbean, X-Men, 24), one of Hollywood’s most recognisable black actors. He stars
alongside Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, dubbed ‘the Queen of Nollywood’. The cast
includes Jim Iyke, AMAA award winning actor Ali Nuhu, Uru Eke, Anthony
Monjaro and Celine Loader.
Emelonye explains that the biggest challenge for every filmmaker is finding the
money to make their film. “But after finding the money, then the ‘wahala’ (trouble) of
shooting an entire film at a busy Nigerian airport set in. We had to find a plane and
ground it for two weeks. Over a hundred cast and crew members had to be cleared
through airport security to be next to the tarmac and runway.’
Last Flight to Abuja has been well received critically and commercially and profiled by
CNN and the BBC.
“This was an expensive film as far as Nollywood is concerned. But when you compare
what we achieved compared to similar films from the rest of the world, you would say
the money we spent is peanuts,’ says Emelonye, declining to comment on the film’s
investors.
Last Flight to Abuja is based on a series of fatal air crashes that occurred in Nigeria in
2006. “It is very different from my last feature The Mirror Boy,’ says Emelonye. “One
common thread is what I call “creative brinkmanship’ – an artistic approach that
focuses on universal themes that are contemporary, topical and slightly provocative.
“Last Flight to Abuja deals with the thorny issue of aviation safety in Nigeria while
The Mirror Boy deals with the issue of identity in children born in the diaspora with a
coming of age theme.’
Emelonye stresses that he only takes credit for the vision of the project and says its
realisation is due to his ‘hard working collaborators’ – the crew and cast.
“Then God chipped in to perfect our imperfections,’ he says.
In a tragic turn of events, just before the film’s release in early June, a plane crashed
into a Lagos suburb on 3 June, killing 153 people.
“I feel I have a social responsibility to run a commentary on my society and this tragic
event has given this film added significance, whether I like it or not,’ states
Emelonye.
He is happy that on an entertainment level, people have enjoyed the film and
vindicated his choice of such “risky’ subject matter.
By Martin Chemhere
Screen Africa magazine – November / December 2012
