Before you say ‘Yes I Do’

 Looking at cinema hall that is filled to capacity, one recalls the heyday of cinema-viewing when families, lovers and friends thronged cinema houses to watch trendy movies. Those good old days seem to be back once again at the Film House Cinema, Leisure Mall in Surulere, Lagos.

Recently, the film house hosted lovers of cinema entertainment to the screening of ‘Yes I Do’, a movie documentary that explores the marital issues couples face in contemporary times.

Written and directed by Nickolas Kens, the movie documentary features and revolves round a couple, Lawson and Sarah (Khoemizona Babalola and Iffy Iwuoha), who were facing some challenges capable of breaking up their union.

Explaining the synopsis of the movie, Nickolas said the leading actors, Lawson and Sarah, are married for over five years without a child. A medical test conducted later reveals that Sarah will be unable to conceive because of her husband’s primary infertility.

The drama unfolds when Sarah tells Lawson about the test result, though not mentioning the infertility. Not knowing that he is actually the cause of their childlessness, Lawson seeks divorce. The marriage suffers anarchy as Sarah undergoes maltreatment by her husband. However, on the realisation that he is the cause of their predicament, Lawson retraces his steps while Sarah, who has remained steadfast due to the love she still has for Lawson despite the deteriorating state of their marriage, becomes strengthened and lively again. The film ends peacefully with the resolve of both to live happily again.

In a session with the movie director who has had marriage talks for over 15 years, he notes that the movie documentary was driven by the high level of breakups and divorce facing marriages in Nigeria today.

“Our findings reveal that 80 percent of marriages break up within a period of five years. Hence the thrust of the movie documentary is to emphasis on the fact that no matter how much a marriage deteriorates, it can never go beyond repair unless the couples are dead. I draw conclusion from my findings in my 15 years in conducting marriage counselling, seminars and workshops, coupled with my eight years of marital experience,” he explains, noting further that a new film would be unveiled around December this year.

Nickolas worries because most of the married couples think marriage counselling is only before marriage. “Marriage counselling,” he says, “continues even after marriage and that is the reason we repackaged it into a marriage documentary like this that teaches couples how to keep their marriage afloat. As they see, listen and learn from the documentary, their lives, values and expectations in life change for good.”

The movie documentary, according to him, is timely because the results of data collated from members of the audience who have filled the questionnaire reveal that the fundamental ingredient in marriage is unequivocal love. “No matter the extent of damage that has occurred in any marriage, it does not go beyond repair,” he insists.