Directed by Uduak Isong, Radio Sunrise is based on Anietie Isong’s award-winning novel of the same name. The drama follows journalist Ifiok (Maurice Sam), who seems to be the only reporter in Lagos with morals. As he chases leads and reports on them on his radio program, Radio Sunrise, Ifiok finds people in power pushing back. This leads to the cancellation of Radio Sunrise, and try as he might, it proves difficult for Ifiok to find another career.
The journalist’s personal life is going well, with a happy wife and all, until he succumbs to base desires. Caught in the act with another woman, Yetunde (Bimbo Ademoye) takes a job in the U.S., while he goes to talk to a dangerous revolutionary. Can Ifiok rediscover his morals, and thus himself, again? Will he be able to bring the corrupt down and spark change?
Radio Sunrise isn’t plot-driven at all. In fact, it is almost 45 minutes in when the real semblance of a narrative emerges. The film is really a character observation of Ifiok and those in his orbit. Boniface (Dedo Adedayo) is his colleague, but is just after a good time with women. Mr. Kola (Akin Lewis), the owner of the radio station, loves Radio Sunrise but needs the station to be profitable. Most of these people are interesting and likable in their own way, even Boniface. But this is Ifiok’s story, and he’s written very well. There’s a lot to the character, and seeing how he deals with life’s ups and downs is engaging.
“…Yetunde takes a job in the U.S., while he goes to talk to a dangerous revolutionary.”
It certainly helps that Sam gives an outstanding performance. He sells his failures well while still coming across as a man of integrity. Ademoye is great as the crushed wife, making her pain believable. Lewis is calm and wise, never turning the part into a caricature. Adedayo, also known by the moniker “Mr. Macaroni,” often mugs and overacts, but that is the point. The actor is very funny and gets the timing just right. Additionally, while he may seem selfish, he comes through when it matters.
But Radio Sunrise is not without its faults. Ifiok narrates the whole picture, and Sam sounds as stiff and bored as Harrison Ford in the theatrical cut of Blade Runner. It is strange considering how good he is with the dialogue proper and playing off his fellow actors. Sadly, the voice-over is played over dialogue between characters, drowning out what they are saying. Not only does this cause a great deal of sonic chaos, but it also prevents those scenes from unfolding properly.
The editing is also strange. When Yetunde finds Ifiok in bed with his mistress, the scene is very odd. They just laid down on the bed, then a quick cut to the door, and the wife enters. No buildup or tension. It is awkward, and the overly dramatic music doesn’t help. Several moments play out in this hasty fashion. However, before the film proper starts, a message appears stating that it has been “modified or adapted to fit this platform’s guidelines.” As such, these weirdly edited moments may be due to stuff being removed to fit those guidelines.
Overall, Radio Sunrise is an entertaining glimpse into Nigeria’s culture, politics, and social values. It is well-acted, and the final 20 minutes have several tension-filled sequences. The voice-over and editing quibbles do detract from the final product, but it is still worth checking out.
"…an entertaining glimpse into Nigeria's culture, politics, and social values."
