Champagne (2014 film)

Champagne is a 2014 Nigerian romantic thriller film, produced and directed by Emem Isong. It stars Majid Michel, Alexx Ekubo, Mbong Amata, Susan Peters, Tana Adelana, Kokotso Charlotte, and introduces Rosemary Zimu as Champagne.[2][3] This is Emem Isong's first film as a director.[4][5]

Champagne
Theatrical release poster
Directed byEmem Isong
Produced byEmem Isong
Written byUduak Oguamanam
Anthony Kehinde Joseph
Screenplay byEmem Isong
Starring
CinematographyTom Robson
Beanca Van Heerden
James Costello (uncredited)
Edited byDaniel Tom
Production
company
Royal Arts Studios
Distributed by
  • Royal Arts Academy
  • Silverbird Film Distributions
Release date
  • 19 December 2014 (2014-12-19)
CountryNigeria
LanguageEnglish
Budget₦25 million[1]

The film tells the story of a young couple (Alex Ekubo and Rosemary Zimu), who are in an "open marriage"; To meet their financial needs as a family, they often date unsuspecting people, scam them, and run away. They eventually meet Mr Douglas (Majid Michel), who takes them on an unexpected ride.

Cast

Production

On the title of the film "Champagne", Isong states: "I just wanted to do something that is a bit associated with glitz and glamour, so I decided to name the lead character 'Champagne'. There's really nothing more to it".[6][7] The film was shot in Johannesburg, South Africa and Houston, Texas in the United States.[5][6][8] Shooting in South Africa in particular, posed a challenge, as the Isong had never really worked in the country before now.[6][7] Champagne is Emem Isong's first film as a director;[6] in an interview, she stated that she wanted to celebrate her 20 years anniversary in the film industry with Champagne.[9][10]

Release

The theatrical trailer of Champagne was released on 19 November 2014.[11][12][13] The film premiered in Lagos on 19 December 2014, and started showing at the cinemas on the same day.[5][6][14][15] It premiered in the United Kingdom in March 2015.[16][17]

Critical reception

The film so far has received negative critical reviews, Rosemary Zimu's performance has however been commended by most critics. Nollywood Reinvented rated the film 46%, concluding: "Alexx Ekubo and Rosemary Zimu played off each other’s strength and were able to hold the movie together in their scenes. Alexx is constantly improving as an actor and Rosemary does pretty well for a new actress even though they both could have definitely explored deeper into the emotions".[18] Oris Aigbokhaevbolo of True Nollywood Stories gave a negative review, commenting: "An exploration of that tension between marital duties and financial necessities could take up the duration of a movie, but not with this attention-deficit fare. An unconvincing thriller in romance, near-comic clothing, and it seems no one told the actors. Save for South African newcomer Rosemary Zimu, the actors look unprepared for the film’s turning point moment. Emem Isong’s Champagne Fails To Pop".[19] Samod Biobaku panned the film and performances from the actors (except for Zimu's performance), commenting: "In this movie, Emem [Isong] clearly struggles with creative consistency. From the lighting to the shallow dialogues and this rolls into a plot, so loose, it eventually becomes painfully disjointed. Midway into the movie, the feeling that you could walk out of the cinema hall and ask a friend to tell you what happened afterwards proved a realistic option. The story grips the highway of a saccharine-littered storyline that falls, stumbles, trips, takes flight, trips again, breaks down and somehow, manages to hurl its bulky frame across the finish-line where conflicts are ultimately resolved".[20]

See also

References
  1. Adebola, Bolatito (19 December 2014). "Emem Isong Premieres 'Champagne'". PM News Nigeria. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  2. Sean (19 December 2014). "MOVIE PRODUCER, EMEM ISONG SAYS "I DON'T KNOW WHY I EMBARKED ON THIS" MOVIE: 'Champagne'". Daily Mail (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  3. Showemimo, Dayo (13 December 2014). "Emem Isong's 'Champagne' to premiere this December". The NET NG. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  4. Ebirim, Juliet (7 November 2014). "Emem Isong debuts as director in Champagne". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  5. "Emem Isong 'pops' Champagne at cinemas". Sun News. 20 December 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  6. Ebirim, Juliet (19 December 2014). "I'm projecting N200m in sales for 'Champagne' – Emem Isong". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  7. "Nigeria: I'm Projecting N200 Million in Sales for 'Champagne' – Emem Isong". Vanguard. allAfrica.com. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  8. Momoh, Halimah. "Alex Ekubo, Majid Michel, Mbong Amata & More in Nigerian Movie 'Champagne". Music Nation. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  9. "'I planned to celebrate 20 years of filmmaking with Champagne' – Emem Isong". WAP loaded. 30 December 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  10. Adedosu, Adekunle (29 December 2014). "'I planned to celebrate 20 years of filmmaking with Champagne' – Emem Isong". The NET NG. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  11. Izuzu, Chidumga (26 November 2014). "Watch Alex Ekubo, Majid Michel, others in new movie". Pulse NG. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  12. "Emem Isong directs her first film". News 24. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  13. "Nollywood Trailer: Champagne Starring Majid Michel, Rosemary Zimu & Alexx Ekubo". Jaguda.com. 28 November 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  14. Medeme, Ovwe (28 December 2014). "EMEM ISONG premieres Champagne…Dedicates movie to husband". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  15. Ezeh, Maryjane (23 December 2014). "Celebrities at Emem Isong's Movie Premiere 'Champagne' (Pictures)". Nigeriafilms.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  16. "Nollywood premieres Champagne at London's Lighthouse". Carib Direct. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  17. "Nollywood Stars Heading To London for the Premiere of Champagne". Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  18. "Champagne". Nollywood Reinvented. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  19. Aigbokhaevbolo, Oris (31 December 2014). "Emem Isong's "Champagne" Fails To Pop". TNS. Archived from the original on 6 August 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  20. Biobaku, Samod (27 December 2014). "Movie Review: Champagne". iCampus NG. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
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