Desmond Elliot and the Things in His Cupboard

Gone were the days when number, in terms of the volume of films produced, worked for Nollywood. The reality of growth has dawned on practitioners: you either step up professionalism or simply fall by the roadside.

Part of the ways out of the volume syndrome, the film makers have been advised, is to explore themes that are hitherto considered a no-go area. The fact that Nigerian films also have to compete globally means that they have to enhance the technical outlook of the works. The question is: What is a story if it is not well told? Or what is a film if the cinematography is not right and arresting?

Some of the movies recently produced in the country have been taking care of this. A good number of people have, for instance, applauded Tade Ogidan’s Family on Fire, Kunle Afolayan’s Phone Swap and Kalejaye Paul’s Married But Living Single.  Another film that promises to impress the market is In the Cupboard, produced by popular actor, Desmond Elliot. While approaching the questions of death and inheritance from a fresh perspective, it also takes on the controversial subject of lesbianism.

In the Cupboard is a story that revolves around the lives of six siblings born into the rich, aristocratic De Souza family; a name synonymous with wealth and power. Everything seems perfect in their lives until their father dies unexpectedly and all of them gather from different parts of the world to be with their mother, the elegant matriarch Veronica “Ronnie” DeSouza,  played by Biola Williams. What ensues is a series of events that threatens to shake the family to its very foundations.

In the cast are celebrated figures that include Ini  Edo,  Big Brother Africa winner Uti Nwachukwu, Alex Ekubo and  Ghanaian actress, Lydia Forson. It has received five awards since its release in August – including, Best Original Story, Best New Actor and Best Supporting Actress at the 2012 GIAMA Awards in the US and the Most Promising Actor at the 2012 Best of  Nollywood Awards.

Co-produced by Caroline Danjuma, the film marketed by under the Denziot Productions brand,  had a swell time at the cinemas and is now on DVD.