''Dazzling Mirage'' is a 2014 Nigerian

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

, produced and directed by

Tunde Kelani Tunde Kelani (born February 26,1946), popularly known as TK, is a Nigerian filmmaker. In a career spanning more than four decades, TK specialises in producing movies that promote Nigeria's cultural heritage, particularly that of the Yoruba. He ...

; it stars Kemi "Lala" Akindoju,

Kunle Afolayan Kunle Afolayan (born 30 September 1975) is a Nigerians, Nigerian actor, producer, and director. He is credited for elevating the quality of Nollywood movies through larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, releasing in Movie theater, cinemas, and impro ...

Bimbo Manuel Bimbo Manuel (born 30 October 1958) is a Nigerian actor. He was nominated for Best actor in a supporting role at the 2013 Nollywood Movies Awards. Career Bimbo hails from Lagos State. After graduating from the University of Port Harcourt with ...

, Yomi Fash Lanso, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and Seun Akindele. It also features special appearances from Adewale Ayuba, Sean Tizzle, Tunde Babalola and Steve Sodiya. The

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

is an adaptation of a novel of the same name by Olayinka Abimbola Egbokhare, adapted to screen by

Ade Solanke Adeola Solanke FRSA, commonly known as Ade Solanke, is a British playwright and screenwriter. She is best known for her debut stage play, ''Pandora's Box'', which was produced at the Arcola Theatre in 2012, and was nominated as Best New Play in ...

. It tells the story of a young

sickle-cell Sickle cell disease (SCD), also simply called sickle cell, is a group of inherited haemoglobin-related blood disorders. The most common type is known as sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell anemia results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying p ...

patient and the various social and emotional challenges she is faced with.

Cast

* Kemi 'Lala' Akindoju as Funmiwo * Seun Akindele as Sanya *

as Dotun * Taiwo Ajai-Lycett as Sanya's Mum *

as Dr. Femi/Funmiwo's Dad * Yomi Fash Lanso as Lanre * Carol King as Lola/Funmiwo's Mum * Khabirat Kafidipe as Tade * Aderounmu Adejumoke as Yejide * Bukola Awoyemi as Bukola * Ayo Badmus as Mr. Odusina * Tunji Afolayan as Kunle * Adewale Ayuba as Adewale Ayuba (special appearance) * Sean Tizzle as Sean Tizzle (special appearance) * Collins Enebeli as * Tunde Babalola as * Hakeem Adenekan as * Steve Sodiya as

Production

It was announced in March 2012, just after the theatrical release of ''Maami'', that Kelani would be adapting Olayinka Abimbola's ''Dazzling Mirage'' to the big screen. As of January 2013, the adaptation was confirmed to have commenced. Kelani believes the film to be his way of contributing towards public awareness of genotype-related issues like sickle-cell anaemia, hoping young couples would pay attention to its importance. He states: "all of us are connected directly or indirectly to the sufferers of this ailment"; "I have also had personal relationships with sufferers of this ailment and I consider it my responsibility to bring their story to fore." Kemi Akindoju had her

screen test A screen test is a method of determining the suitability of an actor or actress for performing on film or in a particular role. It is typically a secondary or later stage in the audition process. The performer is generally given a scene, or sel ...

on 12 June 2013 and

principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as the ...

commenced on 18 September 2013.

Release

A promotional poster of ''Dazzling Mirage'' was unveiled on 24 June 2013; Onset pictures were also constantly released to the public during the course of filming. The first trailer for the film was released to the public on 1 December 2013 and a second trailer was released on 14 February 2014. The first official poster, together with a third trailer was released on 18 June 2014, ahead of the 2014 World Sickle-cell Awareness Day. The film screened at the Nollywood Film Festival in

New Zealand New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...

; it premiered on 7 November 2014 at the

Muson Centre The MUSON Centre (Musical Society of Nigeria) is a performance hall in Lagos. The multipurpose civic auditorium is located in the centre of Lagos Island, situated between the National Museum, the City Mall, the Onikan Stadium and the former o ...

Lagos Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...

, and was generally released theatrically on 20 February 2015.

Accolades

''Dazzling Mirage'' has been nominated in the "Best Costume Design" category at the 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards.

References

External links