2023 Show
Olawale Adetula · Nigeria · Yoruba
Infidelity reaps unexpected wealth in this new but unfunny Yoruba dark comedy series
With the premise, Ololade seems like it would be a mysterious crime thriller, where two friends try to keep the wealth they suddenly obtained. It doesn’t really go that way, however, as the money leads into shenanigans involving multiple girlfriends, making it more a drama about infidelity than a drama about money laundering. The series tries to make fun of it, and there are moments when it’s funny to see them hide their mistresses, but these silly moments feel terrible considering that the show starts with one girlfriend’s death. There’s something here about the ridiculousness of juggling multiple women, but when this leads to a death that’s just brushed away, Ololade just seems thoughtlessly cruel.
Two friends suddenly become rich in unexpected ways. It seems too good to be true — until they get entangled in a deadly money laundering scheme.
Two philandering friends strike gold with an unexpected bank transfer amounting to millions. With the fortune, they try to build up a business, but they get entangled in a money laundering scheme that turns deadly.
Mixing cheating storylines with unexpected wealth, Ololade, technically showcases a man being rewarded financially from cheating. Infidelity is expected in Nigeria, according to the series, as it’s understood as a cultural norm. There’s an interesting thought experiment here, especially as the two friends have different levels of awareness towards their unexpected wealth, and there seem to be certain comeuppances that they will go through. It mixes familiar tropes in Yoruba films, however, the series tries to introduce these themes in a comedic manner rather than giving these themes the seriousness it deserves.
Truly a missed opportunity.
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
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