{{short description|2010 film by Chineze Anyaene}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Ijé | image = Ijé poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical poster | director = Chineze Anyaene | producer = {{unbulleted list|Paula Moreno<ref name="imdb2">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1578582/fullcredits|title=Ijé - The Journey - Full cast|website=The Internet Movie Database|accessdate=5 August 2010}}</ref>|Chineze Anyaene}} | writer = {{unbulleted list|Samuel Tilsen|Chineze Anyaene}} | narrator = | starring = {{unbulleted list|Genevieve Nnaji|Odalys García|Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde|Jeff Swarthout|Clem Ohameze|Ulrich Que}} | music = Reuel Meditz | cinematography = Keith L. Smith | editing = {{unbulleted list|Eric R. Brodeur|Youssef Delara}} | studio = Xandria Productions | distributor = Xandria Distributions | released = {{Film date|2010|04|01|United States|2010|07|30|Nigeria}} | runtime = 107 minutes | country = {{unbulleted list|Nigeria|United States}} | language = English<br>Yoruba<br>Igbo | budget = $2.5 million<ref name="imdb">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1578582/business|title=Box office / business for Ijé at imdb.com|website=The Internet Movie Database|accessdate=5 August 2010}}</ref> | gross = }} '''''Ijé''''' or '''''Ijé: The Journey''''' is a 2010 Nigerian drama film directed by Chineze Anyaene and starring Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Genevieve Nnaji, and Odalys García.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201002050921.html|title=Ije Arrives Jos|publisher=AllAfrica Global Media|accessdate=5 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.independentngonline.com/DailyIndependent/Article.aspx?id=17935|title=Hollywood Stars Arrive For Ije|work=The Daily Independent|publisher=The Daily Independent|accessdate=5 August 2010|location=Lagos, Nigeria}}</ref><ref name="vanguard">{{cite news|url=http://www.vanguardngr.com/2010/07/16/hollywood-stars-storm-lagos-for-ije/|title=Hollywood stars storm Lagos for Ije|accessdate=5 August 2010|location=Lagos, Nigeria|newspaper=Vanguard}}</ref>
==Plot== Chioma (Genevieve Nnaji) travels from Nigeria to the United States to aide her sister Anya (Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde) who is being charged with the murder of three men, including her own husband.
==Cast== *Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde as Anya Opara Michino *Genevieve Nnaji as Chioma Opara *Odalys García as Carolina *Jeff Swarthout as Don Deccico *Clem Ohameze as Papa Oparara *Ulrich Que as Jalen *Jon Woodward as Michael Michino
==Reception== Nollywood Reinvented rated the movie 68% and praised its ability to touch on a diversity of topics.<ref>{{cite web |title=IJE the Journey |url=https://www.nollywoodreinvented.com/2012/12/ije-journey.html |website=Nollywood Reinvented}}</ref>
''The Independent'' wrote: "Ijé is an unsparing, outsider’s portrayal of America’s social prejudices, one that Hollywood films cannot construct themselves. Anyaene nails social comedy too; my favourite exchange involves the protagonist Chioma investigating an affluent white American home. A petite homeowner swings open the door and chirps, “We already give to the Jolie-Pitt fund every year… thank you though!” ".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/looking-for-believable-black-voices-and-storylines-maybe-you-should-pay-attention-to-nollywood-a6766801.html|title=Looking for authentic black voices and storylines? Maybe you should pay attention to Nollywood|newspaper=The Independent|author=Chibelushi, Wedaeli|date=9 December 2015|accessdate=20 September 2016}}</ref> Film critic Gbenga Awomodu, reviewing for ''CP Africa,'' praised the cinematography and acting, remarking that the film "brings to the fore some important themes in today's world, including love, racism, culture, stigma, and life as an immigrant in a foreign country". He further emphasised that the film is illustrative of culture clashes between Nigeria and the US in attitude towards rape, and the culture of shame, silence, and stigma associated with it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/09/14/movie-review-ije-journey-gbenga-awomodu/|title=Ijé Movie Review|publisher=CP Africa|date=14 September 2010|accessdate=20 September 2016|archive-date=24 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160924020309/http://www.cp-africa.com/2010/09/14/movie-review-ije-journey-gbenga-awomodu/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The film garnered the Award of Excellence at the Canada International Film Festival, the Golden Ace Award at the Las Vegas International Film Festival, the Silver Palm Award at the Mexico International Film Festival, the Melvin van Peebles Award at the San Francisco Black Festival,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2012/12/acclaimed-nigerian-hit-drama-ije-the-journey-now-available-in-north-america-139477/|title=Acclaimed Nigerian Hit Drama 'Ijé' ('The Journey') Now Available In North America|publisher=Indiewire.com|date=12 December 2012|accessdate=20 September 2016}}</ref> the Festival Prize for Best International Student at Swansea Bay Film Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2010/08/ije-divas-omotola-genevieve-chineze-rule-the-red-carpet-as-ije-the-journey-premieres-in-lagos/|title=IJE divas Omotola, Genevieve & Chineze rule the red carpet as "IJE – The Journey" Premieres in Lagos|publisher=Bella Naija|date=2 August 2010|accessdate=20 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="sbff">{{cite web|url=http://www.swanseafilmfestival.com/2010/winners.htm|title=Swansea Bay Film Festival 2010 - List of Winners|publisher=Swansea Bay Film Festival|accessdate=5 August 2010|location=Swansea, Wales, UK|archive-date=20 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620044438/http://www.swanseafilmfestival.com/2010/winners.htm|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
== Box office == ''Ijé'' became the highest grossing Nigerian film, a record it held for four years, until it was overtaken in 2014 by ''Half of a Yellow Sun'' (2013).<ref name="The Economist">{{cite news |date=17 July 2014 |title=Nigerian films try to move upmarket: Nollywood's new scoreboard |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/baobab/2014/07/nigerian-films-try-move-upmarket |access-date=20 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=Akande, Victor |date=14 September 2014 |title=Toronto: Nigerians disagree over new Nollywood |url=http://thenationonlineng.net/new/toronto-nigerians-disagree-over-new-nollywood/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=24 March 2015 |newspaper=The Nation}}</ref>
==See also== * List of Nigerian films of 2010
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|1578582}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20130117085830/http://ijethemovie.com/ Official Website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ije}} Category:2010 films Category:Nigerian crime drama films Category:English-language Nigerian films Category:2010 Nigerian films Category:2010 crime drama films Category:Films about rape Category:Films shot in Los Angeles Category:Films set in the United States Category:American crime drama films Category:2010 English-language films Category:Igbo-language films Category:Nigerian drama films Category:2010 American films Category:English-language crime drama films