Mokalik (English: Mechanic) is a 2019 Nigerian bilingual comedy drama film produced and directed by veteran filmmaker Kunle Afolayan. The film stars newcomer Toni Afolayan in the male lead role along with Femi Adebayo. The film had its theatrical release on 31 May 2019 and received extremely positive reviews from critics while also performing well at the box office.[2][3] It was acquired by Netflix in July 2019 and was streamed on 1 September 2019.[4][5] The film has been included as a part of "Made in Africa" collection in May 2020 by Netflix to be streamed amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7] The film was also nominated for the Best Film category during the 2019 Durban International Film Festival. The film was also premiered in several film festivals.

Mokalik
Film poster by Ojo Olamide Enoch
Directed byKunle Afolayan
Screenplay byTunde Babalola
Story byKunle Afolayan
Produced byKunle Afolayan
StarringToni Afolayan
Femi Adebayo
Tobi Bakre
Music byKentoxygen Egunjobi
Production
company
Golden Effects Pictures/Africa Magic
Distributed byFilmOne
Release date
  • 31 May 2019 (2019-05-31)
Running time
99 minutes
CountryNigeria
LanguagesEnglish
Yoruba
Box office₦46.9million[1]

Cast

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  • Toni Afolayan as Ponmile
  • Femi Adebayo as Mr. Ogidan
  • Wale Akorede as Baba Nepa
  • Charles Okocha as Emeka
  • Halimat Adegbola as Mama Goke
  • Tobi Bakre as Goke
  • Lateef Adedimeji as Tiri
  • Ayo Adesanya as Ireti
  • Ayo Ogunshina as Chairman
  • Dayo Akinpelu as Ajentina
  • Feyi Sheotan as Mulika
  • Fathia Balogun as Iya Mulika
  • Jumoke George as Iya Simi
  • Simi
  • Toyosi Benjamin as Otunba

Synopsis

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The story revolves around an 11-year-old boy Ponmile (Toni Afolayan), who is from the middle class suburbs and spends the day as a lowly apprentice at a mechanic workshop in order to view and glance on life from other angles. When his father arrives to take him home, Ponmile has to make up his mind if he wants to return to school or take on his apprenticeship full-time on a long-term basis.[8]

Production

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The filmmaker Kunle Afolayan cast his nephew Toni Afolayan in the main lead role who also eventually made his acting debut. Popular singer Simi also made her acting debut through this project and Tobi Bakre who participated in the Big Brother Naija (season 3) also made his acting debut. The film was predominantly shot in a mechanical village and also in Agege and Lagos.[9] The post-production works were done in Nigeria. The film was shot with a special flexible cinema camera Canon EOS C300 Mark II camera.[9] The film director revealed that this film was made with the intention of releasing it in Yoruba language as it was his first major film in the Yoruba language.[10]

Reception

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Mokalik Private Screening

Nollywood Post in its review[11] praised the movie's accuracy "The drama, the mischief, the retail stores, the canteen, the graduation ceremony down to the costumes, excessive make-up use, and the chain of command in an environment like that was accurately portrayed."

References

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  1. ^ "TTop 20 films of 2019". Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria.
  2. ^ "Movie Review: Kunle Afolayan's 'Mokalik' thrives on memory, not viewer satisfaction". 2019-11-24. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  3. ^ "Box Office: Nigerian moviegoers spent N636 million in July but less than N20 million went to Nollywood". www.pulse.ng. 2019-08-06. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  4. ^ editor (2019-08-23). "Kunle Afolayan's Mokalik, October 1, Now on Netflix". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 2020-05-06. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ "Netflix acquires Kunle Afolayan's 'Mokalik', others". Punch Newspapers. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  6. ^ "Netflix highlights 100+ African titles in new 'Made in Africa' collection". Pulse Nigeria. 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  7. ^ Lotz, Brendyn (2020-05-04). "Netflix celebrates Africa Day with Made in Africa collection". htxt.africa. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  8. ^ Mechanic (Mokalik) (2019), retrieved 2020-05-06
  9. ^ a b "5 things you should know about Kunle Afolayan's new movie, 'Mokalik'". Pulse Nigeria. 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  10. ^ "Why I made 'Mokalik' - Kunle Afolayan - P.M. News". www.pmnewsnigeria.com. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
  11. ^ "Mokalik Movie Review". Nollywood Post. 21 June 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-13.
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