'76 (film)

'76
Theatrical release poster
Directed byIzu Ojukwu
Screenplay byEmmanuel Okomanyi
Produced byAdonaijah Owiriwa
Izu Ojukwu
Tonye Princewill
Starring
CinematographyYinka Edward
Edited byEmeka Ojukwu
Production
companies
Adonis Productions
Princewill's Trust
Release date
  • 25 November 2016 (2016-November-25)
[1]
CountryNigeria
LanguagesEnglish
Igbo
Budget₦600 million
($3 million)[2]

'76, formerly Lions of '76, is a 2016 Nigerian historical fiction drama film directed by Izu Ojukwu and produced by Adonaijah Owiriwa and Izu Ojukwu. It stars Ramsey Nouah, Chidi Mokeme, Rita Dominic, and Ibinabo Fiberesima.[3]

Set six years after the civil war, a young officer from the Middle Belt gets into a romantic relationship with an O-level student from the South-eastern region. However, their relationship is strained by constant military postings. The soldier gets accused of being involved in the unsuccessful 1976 military coup and assassination of General Murtala Mohammed, and the heavily pregnant wife gets entangled in an emotional dilemma.

The historical account in '76 went through a seven-month approval period at the Nigerian Military before filming started. The film, which is set in the 1970s, was shot in Ibadan, Oyo.[4][5] The film, which was shot on 16-millimeter film with an Arriflex 416 camera, was in production for about five years.[6]

  1. ^ "TNS EXCLUSIVE: Nollywood Films Set To Break Box Office Records In 2016". TNS. 18 July 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  2. ^ York, Geoffrey (1 September 2016). "Nigeria's Nollywood film industry in the spotlight at this year's TIFF". theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  3. ^ "An Epic Tale of Soldiers & the Officers' Wives! Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Ibinabo Fiberisima, Chidi Mokeme star in Izu Ojukwu's New Movie, '76". Bella Naija. 22 November 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Lions of '76 – New Nollywood Movie By Izu Ojukwu". Retrospective. 23 November 2012. Archived from the original on 16 June 2014. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  5. ^ Tunde (12 July 2012). "Izu Ojukwu's Lion of 76, An Arduous journey to Celluloid". Live Ofofo. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  6. ^ Tunde (12 July 2012). "Izu Ojukwu's Lion of 76, An Arduous journey to Celluloid". LiveOfofo. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014. Note: The interview was conducted in 2012.