My Movie Review: The Forge

Last night I had a chance to watch The Forge and to be honest my heart is still full. You know those films where you sit down to watch and you think all you are going to get is another boring night then you find it gets its hands in your heart and shakes it like crazy and then slams it back in place with more feeling than it held before? This is exactly what took place with me.

One felt immediately, in the first scene, that there was something in the atmosphere, quiet, yet full of meaning. The movie did not lose its time on glamorous introductions. Rather, it was as though one were entering a living room of a real family and all the love, struggle and secrets were there in plain view. I had the impression that something had to happen that will not only entertain me, but will make a moment in my soul.

The lead character who is a young man and struggling to make his way in the world reminded me so much of many young Nigerians I know that they are exceptionally talented, full of promise but unsure of which path to take at what they perceive as crossroads in their lives. Like he had the look in the eyes: hope with a bit of bewilderment, power at a shield under the cowardice. You could see he thought he wanted to do something with himself but that life was not let!ing him.

Then the grander characters, the elder wise one with her searching eyes and kind, but firm voice, the paternal man who had years of quiet conflicts between his lips. They simply did not give him tips on how to live, they refined him with wisdom. Whenever they opened their mouths you felt the experience, the burden of it, and you felt that they are not speaking at the basis of theory, they had found what they were speaking.

Well, there is a scene I cannot forget. It was a mere dialogue but the manner in which the mentor appeared at him and said something about being refined in the fire gave me a second thought. At that instance, I understood that the entire film was a blacksmiths shop not of metal and flames but of hearts and choices. The forge was not a mere title-it was the composition of life to shape us to be what we ought to be.

However, there is none of that silent wisdom and teachings. I had experiences of my heart racing. The young man went through temptations, wrong paths, and the occasions when the wrong choice seemed easier and more pleasant. I was tempted to nearly address the screen saying, no! Not that, don't!” It would clench my chest when he was at that minuscule line between breaking and becoming. And believe me the movie does not make it clear in which direction he is going to head to. I couldn't wait to find out in a good way.

The dynamics of the movie were otherwise. I liked their representation of family, not the ideal Instagram one but family as it is. Humans who love one another however continue to make mistakes, continue to fight, and continue to have instances when they foolishly become a disappointment. I never thought it would have been that real that I can see myself and my family as a reflection of the characters on the screen. And it made me recall that love can never be tested in the good time-it can only be tested in the flames, when clinging is the difficult part

What moved me the most was the manner through which the film softly reminded me that the turning points in life are not necessarily prepared with loud announcements. Other times they are minute in nature, such as making the decision to leave the bad group or telling the truth even at the expense of it. And as a woman observing this, I was impressed to think about how many of the young men in our society need to be told this lesson, that it is not a state of stubbornness to be strong, but one of humility, duty and purpose.

Then it was almost a moment to break me. Sparing some details, I have to say that there was a scene in which a young man had to confront the reality of himself. No explanations, no scapegoats-only him being all himself. And that is weariness that became the change of direction. The thought of that stung tears in my eyes since I understand how it is to finally just become aware of how valuable you are and how you have made the choice not to let it go to waste anymore.

The final sequence in the movie was gratifying and motivating. It did not have the perfect fairytale ending, but it gave me far more valuable things, hope. That sort of hope, that makes you find yourself standing up, straightening out your own wrongs, and shining a light for another person. I had the sense that I saw a movie, by the time I had seen credits, I felt that I experienced a movie. It was like I had been in my own personal forge, memories of my own struggles, my own development and the people who formed me in the process came flooding back.

Without being polite, this is not a film to be entertained by, it is a mirror. It reveals you to yourself, to your family, to your society and challenges you to the following question, “Who am I becoming?” There is the power of The Forge. It is deep not loud. Nothing is hurried but nothing about a scene is without meaning. And it leaves you with this feeling of a gentle certainty that sometimes the most difficult days in life are those which result in making us the persons we are born to be.

And hence, if you are looking for a movie that will move you, make you think, possibly even compel at least one act in your life, then by all means, watch The Forge. But be prepared, it will hit you where you are not expecting it. Yea, and as fire on steel, it may mold there also.