SLC-S25/W6-Movie Snapshots | Your Life on Screen (Straw)
If my life were ever turned into a movie, I already know what the title would be: “The Girl Who Learned to Speak.” Not because I didn’t know how to use words, but because I spent a long part of my life swallowing them. I wore silence like a badge, thinking it made me strong, believing that being quiet was the way to be accepted, loved, and not burden others with my fears, doubts, and pain. But like the woman in Tyler Perry’s Straw, I’ve come to learn that silence isn’t strength, and it certainly isn’t healing.
🎬 Straw by Tyler Perry, A Mirror to My Vulnerability
Watching Straw was like seeing a past version of me sit across the room, eyes tired but heart still trying to hold on. The woman in the story had been through so much: abuse, betrayal, abandonment, and yet, she kept hiding behind this strong front, pretending to be fine, never asking for help. I’ve lived there.
But what broke me (in a good way) was the banker, a simple character, yet such a vital one. She didn’t judge her story. She didn’t rush her healing. She stayed. She showed us that healthy people don’t fix you; they hold space for your healing.
It made me realise how much we need people, not just any people, but people who know how to love you when you forget how to love yourself. Life is already loud with pain. Having one person who listens? That’s sacred.
Here are five things Straw taught me that I’m still holding close:
- Silence is not strength, it's often fear wearing a mask.
- You don’t have to carry it all alone. Healing happens faster with the right people.
- Being heard is a form of love. And everyone deserves to feel heard.
- There is still beauty after pain. Life after trauma isn’t just survival, it can be joy too.
- It’s okay to start over. Not from scratch, but from experience.
🎬 Love in Every Word by Omoni Oboli, When Intentionality Becomes Romance
This movie wasn’t the typical Nigerian love story where drama steals the spotlight. It was soft. Real. Uncomplicated in its plot but layered in emotion. It’s the kind of movie that doesn’t shout, it whispers gently into your spirit.
What struck me wasn’t just the romance, but the kind of love it portrayed, the intentional kind.
The main male character didn’t throw money around or make loud declarations. He simply showed up. In quiet ways that made the woman feel safe. He asked the right questions. He remembered the things she said. He adjusted. He listened, not to reply, but to understand.
It reminded me that love is not just in saying “I love you” with words, it’s in loving with actions that follow through.
One scene that stayed with me was when the woman doubted herself, thinking she wasn’t good enough. And instead of brushing it off, the man held space for her. He didn’t give motivational quotes. He didn’t fix her. He just stayed and let her feel heard. That? That’s the kind of love we all long for. Not perfect love. But present, consistent, intentional love.
The movie also reminded me that women shouldn’t have to beg for effort. Effort should be the bare minimum when someone claims to love you.
Love is not just butterflies in your belly; it’s peace in your mind.
It’s not just flowers once in a while; it’s water every day.
🎬 Temptation by Awele Hansel (YouTube)
This one hit a nerve.
It’s the story of a woman, married to a pastor, who reconnects with her ex, and that one emotional mistake becomes a wildfire. She ends up pregnant with the other man and chooses not to tell her husband. But truth has legs; it catches up. The fallout? Brutal.
And here’s what I took from it:
- Never let your past flirt with your present. It’s not just about avoiding temptation, it’s about knowing that closure doesn’t come from revisiting old flames.
- Honesty isn’t optional. A secret you think you’re hiding is a storm already forming.
- Being married doesn’t mean you’re invincible to emotional loneliness.
This film reminded me how fragile trust is, and how easy it is to lose something you spent years building, all because you didn’t protect your emotional boundaries.
Final Thoughts
My life on screen would be titled:
“The Girl Who Learned to Speak.”
Because like the woman in Straw, I once thought silence was survival. I thought the less I shared, the more lovable I’d be, but that’s not true.
Now, I speak. Even when my voice shakes. Even when I’m not sure the words will land.
Because I’ve learned,
Healing doesn’t happen in hiding.
And the right people? They won’t run when they hear your truth.
I’m still learning.
But I’m no longer walking alone.
I would like to invite @etoro @eliany @okere-blessing to join the challenge.
Thank you for participating in this challenge of season 25.
It's good to know the movie straw reflected your life in no small way. Healing doesn't happen in hiding! Cheers..
Thank you so much !