"SLC-S25/W6-Movie Snapshots| Your life on Screen (To Kill a Monkey)

Dear movie friends, it is amazing joining this week's task after several previous tasks that didn't allow my entry. "Your life on screen" task is a movie type that simply hypes the creativity in movie cast that humanizes the experiences, cultures, or behaviours of individuals...

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Watch a movie that reflects a part of your identity, culture, or experience.

I will express my views on a movie titled "To Kill a Monkey". This is a Nigerian movie that was recently added to Netflix with high HD screen time and quality expressions of different characters. The experience in this movie is not far from the present reality, though trending but a major cause for concern.

This movie, "To Kill a Monkey" greatly explores different spheres of human personal lives, societal issues as they co-exist and antagonise each other, as well as human relationship management. An intriguing scene that keeps its viewers on the edge of suspense.

The major characters include Efe, who happens to be one who was harshly treated by life, and in the same vein made strong decisions that firmed him up thereafter. Sometimes, we find ourselves in such a space that gets us corrupted suddenly with available resources within our reach.

Another strong character is "Oboz the Boss," who was a cultist back then, with an empire capable of enriching others wrongly and in a negative manner. He institutionalized an empire that defrauded others of their hard-earned monies. A machinery that cuts across both nationally and internationally.

We have the "Teacher" who was also aligned with the advance fee fraud as attributed to the above character (Oboz the Boss). He was left behind due to technological deficiencies which lured him into untold confrontations with his rival.

Other main characters played very key roles in this movie, and this represented a greater quality of what most of us experience and keenly align with. I will be sharing in detail how this movie has impacted or represented my personality given its motivation.

Mention 5 things from the movie that motivated you to keep pushing in life.

Courage and Sacrifice:
"To Kill a Monkey" is one that highlights the importance of being there for our loved ones despite all odds. Family has been man's greatest weakness while making firm decisions, but one thing is constant: it always favours family and most of the time disenfranchises self-wish. Most characters impose a firm stance that enforces selflessness and courage. We could see the impact played by one of the major characters, "Efe". He was so much concerned about his family and tended to protect them.at a high possible cost. This, which landed him in jail and put his life in danger as well.

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Family Dynamics:
We could see family bonding across lines when partnership or common interest is identified. All families showed relatively strength despite the highs and lows associated with it. This exemplifies the complexities involved in love and loyalty relative to family dynamics as situations determine their narratives.

Social Injustice:
Social injustice is an epidemic that has ravaged the fundamentals of our state. The movie tends to highlight the possible areas of perceived corruption and societal struggles, but one thing stands out: justice always has its course. This movie clearly shows the impact of wrongdoings both on individuals and society, but always has justice served to defiant and unruly lawbreakers.

Resilience in Adversity:
This award-winning movie portrays the resilience of one of its key actors facing hardship. He underwent untold hardship that undermined his generality. However, what we must know is that, despite the situation, there is always hope and light so long as there is life. Being determined can always help us overcome the issues of life, a pattern that suggests human survival instinct.

Moral Choices:
There are moral complexities that leave viewers wondering where to focus their strengths during adversity. We could see the exemplary startup life of "Efe" who showed determination to pull through but was disorganised to articulate through challenges as they unfolded. Situations should not determine our moral standings through informed justification that keeps us on the positive path.

Who was your favorite character? And why?

I would have chosen "Oboz the Boss" given its representative path as a cultist, having clearly showcased the lifestyle and pattern of this personality status, but "EFE" is my preferred character. The movie started with him and ended with him.

He was a victim of adversity despite his hard work throughout his university days. He was determined to make a better life despite the limitation before him. He was found engaged in menial jobs. That sustained him, though that wasn't enough to pull him through as a family man.

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His love for his family was exemplary despite the hardship before him. He did not shy away from challenges before him and humiliation received from most people around him, especially even by his mother-in-law. Efe stood strong and tall throughout the storm, but finally, it consumed him. He was aware of his wrongdoings, but a decision he chose. This went as far as protecting his loved ones at all costs.

He was faced with several decision-making situations at that time, which he managed to respond to under pressure to end his adversity. We have to learn to apply our gifts positively, rather than wrongly, for selfish purposes. Right from the "offer acceptance" which led to wrong application of ideas and quest to keep his family safe by going dirty, we should always know there is always another side of the coin that indicts us.

This character also exemplifies the need to know that a man's true identity isn't in his low moment. Power and Money are major deciders of what represents man's true self. Efe gradually became a shadow of him self when he got these resources. This was perfectly acted out to show us pre- and post-adversity periods of a man.

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Mention at least 2 movies you have seen this year that inspired you and why they did.

To Kill a Monkey is one that shows the life of a man in adversity. It exemplifies and highlights the importance of hard work and determination in surmounting hardship. Man's present situation should not be a determinant of what his tomorrow should be when genuine hard work is put in.

Upholding and improving family dynamics across lines is ideal. We have to uphold selflessness as our watchword, as this comes with some level of cost that puts us behind our loved ones. Most key characters exhibited this attribute as they looked out for their loves and could bear any cost for their existence.

The Straw is another movie that showcases the life of a single mother, who is determined to break through the shackles of adversity. She was determined despite the unfair treatment life threw at her. She was found doing menial jobs to keep up with her sick child, which was mostly inadequate.

The love and sacrifice exhibited were quite exemplary despite the harsh realities within the society. The emotional and dramatic scenes were top-notch, which tend to portray individual interaction with societal issues.

In handling societal pressures, we have to learn to follow them rightly. The way we handle issues around us determines how far we end up thereafter. No matter how genuine our course may be, it shouldn't be at the discomfort of the public space.

Conclusion

Movies are special ways to express human personality expressed in different characters. They are created to teach and sometimes correct some societal errors that are now the new normal. "To Kill a Monkey" was cast to show resilience, courage, sacrifice, and family dynamics amid a crime scene and thriller casting.

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