Love Castle
{{Short description|2021 Nigerian film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Use Nigerian English|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox film
| image = This is a poster for the film Love Castle.jpg
| caption = Film poster
| director = Desmond Elliot
| writer = Beatrice Funke Ogunmola
| producer = {{ubl|
Beatrice Funke Ogunmola|
Victor Ogunmola
}}
| starring = {{plainlist|
}}
| cinematography = {{ubl|
Lekan Adebayo Bature|
Guadalupe Nunez|
Tunde Ogunnnusi
}}
| editing = Daniel Durotimi
| music = Timothy Tiodi Ogundele
| studio = Hope Studio/BFO Media
| distributor = Blue Pictures Entertainment
| released = {{film date|df=yes|2021|09|10|Nigeria}}
| runtime = 110 mins
| country = {{ubl|Nigeria|United States}}
| language = English
}}
Love Castle is a 2021 Nigerian film directed by Desmond Elliot, produced by United States–based Nigerian, Beatrice Funke Ogunmola and co-produced by Victor Ogunmola.{{Cite web|last=Ige|first=Tofarati|date=12 September 2021|title=Nigerian culture, disabilities inspired Love Castle –Ogunmola|url=https://punchng.com/nigerian-culture-disabilities-inspired-love-castle-ogunmola/|access-date=10 October 2021|website=Punch Nigeria Newspapers|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=6 September 2021|title=Love Castle highlights Nigerian culture interwoven with disability -Actor|url=https://punchng.com/love-castle-highlights-nigerian-culture-interwoven-with-disability-actor/|access-date=10 October 2021|website=Punch Nigeria Newspapers|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=5 September 2021|title=Love Castle, hits big screen|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/love-castle-hits-big-screen/|access-date=10 October 2021|website=The Guardian |location=Nigeria }} The film centers on themes of tradition and family ties; it portrays Nigerian culture interwoven with disability and focuses on a deep-rooted belief about children living with disabilities, as experienced by the producers who have a child living with autism. It is a traditional story about the African culture of silence surrounding taboos.
The film stars Rachel Oniga, Zack Orji, Desmond Elliot, Kehinde Bankole, Jide Kosoko, and Adedimeji Lateef, with other Nollywood actors in the supporting roles.{{Cite web|last=Nwogu|first=Precious|date=28 July 2021|title=Love Castle: Watch official trailer|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/love-castle-watch-official-trailer/z6m2stx|access-date=10 October 2021|website=Pulse Nigeria|language=en}}
The film was shot in both Ibadan, Nigeria, in November 2019 and Houston, Texas, United States, in February 2020.{{Cite web|date=14 August 2021|title=Love Castle set to hit cinemas in Sept.|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/love-castle-set-to-hit-cinemas-in-sept/|access-date=10 October 2021|website=Vanguard (Nigeria) News|language=en-US}} The US filming rounded up before the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic lockdown began. The language used in the film is majorly English with a minor mix of Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa languages. The film premiered on 10 September 2021 at Terra Kulture, Lagos.{{Cite web|last=Oguntayo|first=Femi|date=11 September 2021|title=Glitz and glamour as 'Love Castle' premieres|url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/glitz-and-glamour-as-love-castle-premieres/|access-date=10 October 2021|website=Nigerian Tribune Online|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|last=Ibrahim|first=Juliet|date=13 September 2021|title=Pomp, culture as Love Castle hits cinemas|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/09/pomp-culture-as-love-castle-hits-cinemas/|access-date=10 October 2021|website=Vanguard (Nigeria) News|language=en-US}}
Plot
Love Castle is a story about the Iregbogbo kingdom. The royal family has the task of getting a new king after the death of the last king of the kingdom. Adetutu who is the daughter of the late king is entangled with taboos after the death of her father. She leaves her family in Houston Texas, United States, against her wish and that of her family to become a regent in Nigeria after the death of her father.
Cast
{{Cast listing|
- Kehinde Bankole as Adetutu
- Zack Orji as Chizutere's father
- Jide Kosoko{{Cite web|last=BellaNaija.com|date=15 September 2021|title=Here's your Exclusive Look into Beatrice Ogunmola's culture-themed Premiere for the Love Castle Movie|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2021/09/heres-your-exclusive-look-into-beatrice-ogunmolas-culture-themed-premiere-for-the-love-castle-movie/|access-date=10 October 2021|website=BellaNaija|language=en-US}} as Chief Ofun
- Rachel Oniga{{Cite web|last=Phenomenal|date=13 August 2021|title=Rachel Oniga back alive as 'Love Castle' is set for cinema|url=https://phenomenal.com.ng/2021/08/rachel-oniga-back-alive-as-love-castle-is-set-for-cinema/|access-date=10 October 2021|website=Phenomenal|language=en-US}} as Iyalode
- Desmond Elliot{{Cite web|last=Nwoko|first=Ifeanyi|date=13 August 2021|title=Nollywood: Love Castle movie hits cinemas Sept.10 – Ogunmola|url=https://www.dateline.ng/nollywood-love-castle-movie-hits-cinemas-sept-10-ogunmola/|access-date=10 October 2021|language=en-US}} as Ayo
- Lateef Adedimeji as Chi Joshua
- Halima Abubakar as Show host
- Jumoke George as Iyaloja
- Cynthia Shalom as Adanma Chi-Joshua
- Femi Adebayo as Chief Balogun
- Beatrice Funke Ogunmola as Kanyinsade
- Jibola Dabo as President
- Peter Fatomilola as Eleemi
- Joke Muyiwa as Olori Adefunke
- Rejoice Regme
- Leonel Orji as Young Chizutere's dad
- Kemi Salami
- Deji Adenuga as Prince Adewumi
- Bakere Adeoye as Make traveler
- Segun Akintunde as Shekrano
- Ademola Amos as Pastor
- Martins Afeez Eniola as Blind teenager's father
- Aisha Lawal as Head Teacher
- Hannah Ogunmola as Adesewa
- Krystal Schuhmann as Stephanie
}}
Reception
In 2021, the film became an official selection of Toronto International Women Festival and Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival.{{Cite web|title=TINFF Home|url=https://www.tinff.net/|access-date=10 October 2021|website=tinff|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Tribune |date=15 August 2021 |title=Love Castle: Another epic movie set to hit the cinemas |url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/love-castle-another-epic-movie-set-to-hit-the-cinemas/ |access-date=20 July 2022 |website=Tribune Online |language=en-GB}}
The film received three awards at the Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival in Ontario, Canada, on 30–31 October 2021.{{Cite web|date=10 November 2021|title=Love Castle wins awards in Nigeria, Toronto film festivals|url=https://punchng.com/love-castle-wins-awards-in-nigeria-toronto-film-festivals/|access-date=12 November 2021|website=The Punch (Nigeria)] Newspapers|language=en-US}} The film received an award for Best Film Africa, and its producer Beatrice Funke Ogunmola (BFO) received two awards: Best Nollywood Film Producer and Best Nollywood Female Filmmaker. The TINFF Committee also gave one of the actresses featured in the film, the late Rachel Oniga, an honorary award.
The film producer, Beatrice Funke Ogunmola (BFO), was nominated{{Cite news|date=26 October 2021|title=Abuja International Film Festival Announces Nominees For The 18th Abuja International Film Festival|language=en-US|work=FADFM 93.1|url=https://fadfm.com/2021/10/26/abuja-international-film-festival-announces-nominees-for-the-18th-abuja-international-film-festival/|access-date=12 November 2021}} and won the category Festival Film Mention for Narrative for Love Castle. The award was presented by the Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF), held in Abuja, Nigeria on 4 November 2021.{{Cite web|title=AIFF honours Outstanding Filmmakers, Actors across the globe!|url=https://dotunroy.com/2021/11/05/aiff-honours-outstanding-filmmakers-actors-across-the-globe/|access-date=12 November 2021|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|last=Atedze|first=Mimi|date=5 November 2021|title=18th Abuja International Film Festival{{!}} See full list of winners + Pictures|url=https://fabmimi.com/18th-abuja-international-film-festival-see-full-list-of-winners-pictures/|access-date=12 November 2021|website=Fabmimi.com|language=en-GB}}
In 2022, the Memorial Student Center's Dr. Carter G. Woodson Black Awareness Committee (MSC WBAC) of Texas A&M University requested to screen Love Castle.{{Cite web|last=Abiodun|first=Alao|date=12 February 2022|title=Texas University to screen Love Castle movie|url=https://thenationonlineng.net/texas-university-to-screen-love-castle-movie/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=The Nation Newspaper|language=en-US}}
= Awards and nominations =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Awards and nominations !Date !Award !Category !Result !Notes |
| rowspan="10" |2021
| rowspan="6" |Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival (TINFF) |Best Film Africa |{{Won}} |
| Best Film Nollywood
|{{Nom}} |
| Best Movie Producer - Nollywood (Beatrice Funke Ogunmola - Love Castle)
|{{Won}} |
| Best Nollywood Female Filmmaker (BFO - producer
|{{Won}} |
| Best African Female Filmmaker
|{{Nom}} |
| Best African Film Producer
|{{Nom}} |
| rowspan="4" |Abuja International Film Festival
|Festival Mention for Narrative |{{Won}} |
| Outstanding Feature Film - Love Castle
|{{Nom}} |
| Outstanding Female Actor - Kehinde Bankole
|{{Nom}} | |
| Outstanding Male Actor - Jide Kosoko
|{{Nom}} | |
References
{{Reflist}}