{{short description|2020 Nigerian drama film by Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri}} {{Use Nigerian English|date=January 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox film | name = Eyimofe | image = Eyimofe Poster.jpg | caption = | director = Arie Esiri<br>Chuko Esiri | writer = Chuko Esiri | producer = Melissa Adeyemo<br>Arie Esiri<br>Chuko Esiri | starring = Jude Akuwudike<br>Temi Ami-Williams | music = Akin Adebowale | cinematography = Arseni Khachaturan | editing = Andrew Stephen Lee | studio = GDN Studios, Kimiera, Ominira Studios | distributor = Janus Films | released = {{Film date|df=y|2020|10|11|BFI}} | runtime = 114 minutes | country = Nigeria | language = English<br>Nigerian Pidgin<br>Yoruba | budget = | gross = }}
'''''Eyimofe''''' ('''''Eyimofe: This Is My Desire''''') also known as '''''This Is My Desire''''' is a 2020 Nigerian drama film produced and directed by twin brothers Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri on their directorial debuts. The film was written by Chuko Esiri.<ref>{{Cite web|title=EYIMOFE|url=https://www.eyimofe.film/|access-date=2021-01-15|website=EYIMOFE|language=en-US}}</ref> The film is made of two chapters called Spain and Italy.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-06|title=Eyimofe 'This Is My Desire' (2020) BFI LFF Review - A Triumph of Nigerian Cinema {{!}} The Film Magazine|url=https://www.thefilmagazine.com/eyimofe-this-is-my-desire-movie-review/|access-date=2021-01-15|language=en-GB}}</ref> The film stars Jude Akuwudike and Temi Ami-Williams in the main lead roles. The film was opened to positive reviews from critics and was screened at various global international film festivals in 17 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kiang|first=Jessica|date=2020-03-01|title='This Is My Desire': Film Review|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/this-is-my-desire-review-eyimofe-1203512981/|access-date=2021-01-15|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-21|title=Eyimofe (This is My Desire) Review|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/eyimofe-this-is-my-desire-film-review-afi-2020-4077205|access-date=2021-01-15|website=www.hollywoodreporter.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-10-07|title=Trailer for Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) out ahead of UK premiere|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/life/trailer-for-eyimofe-this-is-my-desire-out-ahead-of-uk-premiere/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-date=8 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108033848/https://editor.guardian.ng/life/trailer-for-eyimofe-this-is-my-desire-out-ahead-of-uk-premiere/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Plot == The film is divided into two distinct but thematically connected chapters — “Spain” and “Italy.
===Chapter One: Spain===
The first story follows Mofe, a middle-aged electrician and generator repairman living in a low-income neighborhood of Lagos. Mofe dreams of migrating to Spain to escape the difficulties of his daily life and to find better prospects. He works two jobs — one at a printing press fixing electrical equipment and the other as a nighttime security guard— saving every naira he can to fund his journey.
Mofe lives in a small apartment with his sister Precious and her two young children. While Mofe works long hours, Precious manages the household and makes ends meet through small trading. Mofe has been gathering the necessary documents for his migration, including his passport, visa applications, and reference letters, hoping to finalize his travel plans soon.
However, tragedy strikes when he returns home one evening to discover that his sister and her children have died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a faulty generator. Devastated, Mofe is left to handle the emotional and financial aftermath. He faces bureaucratic obstacles at every turn — from hospital officials demanding money to retrieve the bodies to his landlord threatening to evict him.
As Mofe tries to arrange their burial, he also loses his passport, which was stolen during a break-in, effectively ending his dream of emigrating. Struggling to recover from the compounded losses, Mofe attempts to find meaning and stability again. He starts a tentative relationship with Rosa, a woman he meets at the bar, but their connection is strained by the weight of their individual struggles. Mofe’s life continues in quiet perseverance as he resigns himself to the reality that leaving Nigeria may no longer be possible.
===Chapter Two: Italy===
The second story focuses on Rosa, a young hairdresser and bartender working multiple jobs to support herself and her teenage sister Grace. Like Mofe, Rosa dreams of migrating — in her case, to Italy. She believes that leaving Nigeria is the only way to escape poverty and ensure a better future for Grace.
Rosa rents a cramped apartment and constantly juggles financial pressures. Her boss at the salon offers to introduce her to Peter, a wealthy Lebanese businessman, who can help with her visa and travel documents — but in exchange for a personal relationship. Reluctantly, Rosa agrees to Peter’s advances, seeing it as a potential path out of her struggles.
Meanwhile, Grace becomes pregnant by Obinna, the landlord’s son. Rosa is furious, fearing that this will derail their migration plans. When Grace falls ill and is hospitalized, Rosa faces mounting medical bills and humiliation from Peter, who withdraws his promises of help.
Rosa later crosses paths again with Mofe, who offers her quiet kindness, but both are too burdened by their own pain to truly connect. Eventually, Rosa realizes that her dream of reaching Italy is slipping away. Despite her efforts — working, borrowing, and compromising — she remains trapped by circumstances beyond her control.
In the final scenes, life in Lagos continues — noisy, crowded, and indifferent. The characters’ hopes for migration fade into the background of everyday survival. Both Mofe and Rosa come to represent the countless Nigerians whose dreams of a better life abroad are thwarted by poverty, systemic failure, and personal tragedy.
== Cast ==
* Jude Akuwudike as Mofe * Temi Ami-Williams as Rosa * Cynthia Ebijie as Grace * Tomiwa Edun as Seyi * Jacob Alexander as Peter * Chioma Omeruah as Mama Esther * Ejike Asiegbu as Goddey * Sadiq Daba as Jakpor * Imoh Eboh as nurse * Chiemela Azurunwa as doctor * Kemi Lana Akindoju as Hope * Kelechi Udegbe as Dauda * Emeka Nwagbaraocha as Akin * Chidumebi Nzeribe as Celestine * Omoye Uzamere as Precious * Charles Ukpong as Abu * Fortune Nwafor as Wisdom * Rita Edward as Peace * Emmanuel Adeji as Blessing * Toyin Oshinaike as Vincent * Nonso Odogwu as Barrister Onuah
== Production == The film was announced by twin brothers Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri as they jointly worked on the project. The film marked the directorial debut for them as they co-directed the film.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-10-24|title=The Esiri Brothers Take 'Eyimofe' Abroad|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2020/10/24/the-esiri-brothers-take-eyimofe-abroad/|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=This Day|language=en-US}}</ref> The film was funded entirely in Nigeria and was shot in 16mm and was filmed across 48 locations in Lagos where the film was set. Few portions of the film were also shot in New York.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Grater|first=Tom|date=2020-10-07|title='Eyimofe (This Is My Desire)': Debut Trailer For Nigerian Drama Screening At LFF|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/eyimofe-this-is-my-desire-trailer-nigerian-drama-lff-1234592866/|access-date=2021-01-15|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref> The film was awarded the 2018 Purple List Award and was chosen as one of the ten projects in 2019 IFP Narrative Lab in New York.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-01-22|title='Eyimofe': 3 interesting things to know about the Nigerian movie selected for the Berlin film festival|url=https://www.pulse.ng/bi/lifestyle/eyimofe3-interesting-things-to-know-about-nigerian-movie-selected-for-the-berlin-film/pd9376l|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Release == The film has screened at various international film festivals held in South Africa, Netherlands, US, Italy, Poland, UK, Spain, Brazil, Portugal, UAE, Canada, Austria, China, Greece, Egypt, Germany and India.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-10-10|title=Eyimofe to premiere in UK as part of the activities to celebrate Nigeria at 60|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/news/eyimofe-to-premiere-in-uk-as-part-of-the-activities-to-celebrate-nigeria-at-60/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-date=8 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108090510/https://editor.guardian.ng/life/eyimofe-to-premiere-in-uk-as-part-of-the-activities-to-celebrate-nigeria-at-60/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-11-11|title=Eyimofe selected for film festivals in Greece, Poland|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/art/eyimofe-selected-for-film-festivals-in-greece-poland/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-date=8 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108012949/https://editor.guardian.ng/art/eyimofe-selected-for-film-festivals-in-greece-poland/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-10-16|title=Nigerian Film, Eyimofe To Screen In Austria, Netherlands, Spain|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/life/nigerian-film-eyimofe-to-screen-in-austria-netherlands-spain/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-date=6 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106231558/https://editor.guardian.ng/life/nigerian-film-eyimofe-to-screen-in-austria-netherlands-spain/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The film was officially selected to be premiered in 17 countries in their respective film festivals as follows
* 70th Berlin International Film Festival, Germany (24 February 2020)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-04|title=Eyimofe: A desire to migrate on screen at the Berlin film festival|url=https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/23155/eyimofe-a-desire-to-migrate-on-screen-at-the-berlin-film-festival|access-date=2021-01-15|website=InfoMigrants|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-01-23|title=Nigerian feature, Eyimofe to show at 70th Berlin International Film Festival|url=https://guardian.ng/life/nigerian-feature-eyimofe-to-show-at-70th-berlin-international-film-festival/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-01-21|title=Nigerian Feature Selected at 70th Berlin International Film Festival|url=https://guardian.ng/life/nigerian-feature-selected-at-70th-berlin-international-film-festival/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US}}</ref> * Vancouver International Film Festival, Canada (26 September 2020)<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-09-26|title=Eyimofe to screen at 2020 vancouver film festival today|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/news/eyimofe-to-screen-at-2020-vancouver-film-festival-today/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-date=6 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106225029/https://editor.guardian.ng/news/eyimofe-to-screen-at-2020-vancouver-film-festival-today/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * BFI London Film Festival, UK (11 October 2020)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eyimofe (This is My Desire)|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/london-film-festival/screenings/eyimofe-this-my-desire|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216010424/https://www.bfi.org.uk/london-film-festival/screenings/eyimofe-this-my-desire|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 December 2020|access-date=2021-01-15|website=BFI|language=en}}</ref> * 2020 Film Africa * 2020 Indie Lisboa International Film Festival, Portugal * 2020 Internacional de Cinema São Paulo International Film Festival/Mostra São Paulo Film Festival, Brazil<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-10-15|title=Eyimofe to screen at Brazil's Mostra Film Festival|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/news/eyimofe-to-screen-at-brazils-mostra-film-festival/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-date=6 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106225027/https://editor.guardian.ng/news/eyimofe-to-screen-at-brazils-mostra-film-festival/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2020 Cinecitta International Film Festival, Netherlands<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-10-20|title='Eyimofe' (This Is My Desire) set to screen in 3 European countries|url=https://www.pulse.ng/entertainment/movies/eyimofe-this-is-my-desire-set-to-screen-in-3-european-countries/mjsmss7|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=Pulse Nigeria|language=en-US}}</ref> * AFI Film Festival, USA (20 October 2020) * 2020 Valladolid International Film Festival, Spain * Sharjah Film Platform Festival, UAE<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-10-25|title=Eyimofe to screen at Sharjah Film platform festival in UAE|url=https://guardian.ng/art/eyimofe-to-screen-at-sharjah-film-platform-festival-in-uae/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US}}</ref> * 2020 Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-12-09|title=Eyimofe Selected For Cairo International Film Festival|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/life/eyimofe-selected-for-cairo-international-film-festival/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-date=8 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108033901/https://editor.guardian.ng/life/eyimofe-selected-for-cairo-international-film-festival/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2020 Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece * 2020 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://guardian.ng/news/eyimofe-selected-for-2020-karlovy-vary-international-film-festival/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|title=Eyimofe selected for 2020 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival|date=26 October 2020}}</ref> * 2020 New Horizons International Film Festival, Poland * Torino Film Festival, Italy (24 November 2020)<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-11-21|title=Eyimofe selected for 2020 Torino Film Festival|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/life/eyimofe-selected-for-2020-torino-film-festival/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-date=6 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106231602/https://editor.guardian.ng/life/eyimofe-selected-for-2020-torino-film-festival/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2020 Hainan Island International Film Festival, China<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-11-26|title=Eyimofe selected for Hainan International Film Festival in China|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/news/eyimofe-selected-for-hainan-international-film-festival-in-china/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-date=8 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108090558/https://editor.guardian.ng/news/eyimofe-selected-for-hainan-international-film-festival-in-china/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Viennale, Austria * World Panorama section of the 51st International Film Festival of India (24 January 2021)<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-01-15|title=Eyimofe Selected For International Film Festival Of India|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/life/film/eyimofe-selected-for-international-film-festival-of-india/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-date=8 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108093514/https://editor.guardian.ng/life/film/eyimofe-selected-for-international-film-festival-of-india/|url-status=dead}}</ref> *2021 BlackStar Film Festival<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-08-11|title=Eyimofe wins Best Feature Narrative at BlackStar Film Festival|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/news/eyimofe-wins-best-feature-narrative-at-blackstar-film-festival-2/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-10-06|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205162732/https://editor.guardian.ng/news/eyimofe-wins-best-feature-narrative-at-blackstar-film-festival-2/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Reception == The film received positive reviews from critics. Glenn Kenny of RogerEbert.com gave it 3.5 stars out of four, writing that it is "a confident, knowing, empathetic effort. While the themes here are, of course, redolent of neorealism, the filmmakers don’t make ostentatious nods to cinema past. Their voice is their own; the camera is mobile when it needs to be, but stands still much of the time, letting the excellent cast build their characters as the events of the film test their endurance. And endurance rather than desire is what the movie is finally all about."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kenny |first1=Glenn |title=Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/eyimofe-this-is-my-desire-movie-review-2021 |website=RogerEbert.com |access-date=November 20, 2021}}</ref>
Writing in ''The New Yorker'', novelist Teju Cole called it an "artful and luminous film" and "a search for how best to live." Comparing it to Wong Kar Wai’s ''In The Mood for Love'', Asghar Farhadi’s ''A Separation'', and Mati Diop’s ''Atlantics'', he concludes: "It is a testament to Chuko Esiri’s compact and intelligent script that the film moves by its own persuasive logic, feeling neither like a catalogue of miseries nor a sentimental exercise in third-world pluck."<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Cole |first1=Teju |title=The Good People of "Eyimofe" |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-good-people-of-eyimofe |magazine=The New Yorker |date=10 August 2021 |access-date=November 20, 2021}}</ref>
It was listed as one of the best African films of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-09|title=The best African films of 2021 {{!}} African Arguments|url=https://africanarguments.org/2021/12/the-best-african-films-of-2021/|access-date=2022-01-01|language=en-GB}}</ref>
The film maintains a "Fresh" score of 100% on ''Rotten Tomatoes'', and an average score of 7.9, after 22 reviews by critics.<ref>{{cite web |title=EYIMOFE (THIS IS MY DESIRE) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/eyimofe |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=November 20, 2021}}</ref>
== Awards and nominations == The film received few awards and nominations at film festivals. It won the Achille Valdata Award at the 2020 Torino International Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-12-01|title=Eyimofe wins Torino Film Festival's Achille Valdata award|url=https://editor.guardian.ng/news/eyimofe-wins-torino-film-festivals-achille-valdata-award/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-01-15|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-US|archive-date=8 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108091328/https://editor.guardian.ng/news/eyimofe-wins-torino-film-festivals-achille-valdata-award/|url-status=dead}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" width="60%" ! style="width:10pt; background:LightSteelBlue;" |Year ! style="width:100pt; background:LightSteelBlue;" |Award ! style="width:40pt; background:LightSteelBlue;" |Category ! style="width:50pt; background:LightSteelBlue;" |Result |- | rowspan="5" |2020 | rowspan="1" |Berlin International Film Festival |Best First Feature | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="1" |Indie Lisboa International Film Festival |Grand Prize City of Lisbon | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="1" |Torino Film Festival |Prize of the City of Torino | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="1" |Valladolid International Film Festival |Best Feature Film | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="1" |Berlinale |Best First Film | {{nom}} |- | rowspan="8" |2021 |BlackStar Film Festival |Best Feature Narrative |{{won}} |- | rowspan="7" |Africa Movie Academy Awards |Best Film |{{nom}} |- |Best Director |{{won}} |- |Best Actor in a Leading Role |{{nom}} |- |Achievement in Editing |{{won}} |- |Best Nigerian Film |{{won}} |- |Best Sound |{{won}} |- |Best First Feature Film by a Director |{{won}} |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|id=tt10365870}}
Category:2020 directorial debut films Category:2020 films Category:2020 drama films Category:Films set in Lagos Category:Films shot in Lagos Category:2020 English-language films Category:English-language Nigerian films Category:2020 Nigerian films Category:Nigerian drama films Category:English-language drama films