''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. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

, produced and directed by

Tunde Kelani Tunde Kelani (born 26 February 1948), 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 rich cultural heritage and have a root in documentation ...

; it stars Kemi "Lala" Akindoju,

Kunle Afolayan Kunle Afolayan (born 30 September 1975) is a Nigerian actor, producer and director. He is widely credited for elevating the quality of Nollywood movies though larger budgets, shooting on 35mm, releasing in cinemas, and improving cliché Nollywo ...

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 wit ...

, Yomi Fash Lanso, Taiwo Ajai-Lycett and Seun Akindele. It also features special appearances from Adewale Ayuba,

Sean Tizzle Morihanfen Oluwaseun Oluwabamidele (born 15 December 1989), known by his stage name as Sean Tizzle, is a Nigerian singer and songwriter. He was formally signed to Sound Sultan's Naija Ninjas. Early life and Career Sean Tizzle was born into a C ...

, Tunde Babalola and Steve Sodiya. The film 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-Nigerian 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 N ...

. It tells the story of a young

sickle-cell Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of blood disorders typically inherited from a person's parents. The most common type is known as sickle cell anaemia. It results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein haemoglobin found in red blo ...

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 Funmiwo's Dad * Yomi Fash Lanso as Lanre * Carol King as Funmiwo's Mum *

Khabirat Kafidipe Kabirah Kafidipe is a Nigerian film actress, director and producer. She is popularly known as “Araparegangan” for her role in '' Saworoide'', a 1999 Nigerian film produced and directed by Tunde Kelani. Early life Kafidipe was born on July ...

as Tade * Aderounmu Adejumoke as Yejide * Bukola Awoyemi as * Ayo Badmus as * Adewale Ayuba as Adewale Ayuba (special appearance) *

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 Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of blood disorders typically inherited from a person's parents. The most common type is known as sickle cell anaemia. It results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein haemoglobin found in red blo ...

, 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. The performer is generally given a scene, or selected lines and actions, and instructed to perform in front of a came ...

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 actor ...

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 ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

; it premiered on 7 November 2014 at the

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

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the List of cities in Africa by population, second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national ca ...

, 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 The 2015 Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) was held on March 7, 2015 at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. IK and Vimbai were the hosts of the event. A new category, Best Indigenous Language (Igbo), was introduc ...

References

External links