Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman January 7, 2023

There's a lot (and, to some probably, an interminable) amount of chatter in the United States about immigration to this country, but what often gets emphasized in the hustle and bustle of vigorous debate is the destination (namely, here) rather than reasons for leaving "home" in the first place. While the United States is not the target country for characters seeking to leave Nigeria in Eyimofe (This Is My Desire), something that in fact may give Americans at least a little "distance" to see things from another perspective, the film is focused on people who, for whatever reason, are pretty much desperate to get out of the land of their birth. While it is distinctly different in both narrative and style, Eyimofe reminded me at times quite strongly of Black Orpheus, insofar as both films document the often hardscrabble lives of chronically economically disadvantaged people attempting to scrape by somehow, some way in a teeming metropolis where shanties are the norm. In this case it's not Rio de Janeiro, but Lagos, a city that co-directors Arie and Chuko Esiri in a supplement on this disc jokingly compare to "New York City on acid".

Two separate stories with separate hoped for destinations provide the main story elements in Eyimofe, and in fact both Spain and Italy are overtly offered as quasi-"chapter headings" for the struggles of Mofe (Jude Akuwudike) and Rosa (Temi Ami-Williams), respectively. Interestingly, but perhaps subliminally enforcing the idea that, to quote a certain Stephen Sondheim, Lagos is "a city of strangers", these characters never really interact, even if parts of their stories are (depressingly) similar. Mofe works as an electrician in a city which frequently has no (or little) power, while Rosa tries to make ends meet as both a hairdresser and bartender. Both want out. Badly.

It might initially appear that Rosa's path is more fraught with obstacles, as she's the guardian and quasi-parent to her (pregnant) little sister, Grace (Cynthia Ebijie), but a tragic turn of events suddenly upends some supposedly well laid plans, including a new passport which may or may not be entirely legal, that Mofe had set into motion. One way or the other, Eyimofe deals with apparent minutiae in the lives of both of these characters which ultimately threaten to completely subsume them. As such, there's an almost suffocating sense of melancholy permeating the story (or stories, if you will), something that seems only exaggerated by how insanely busy Lagos seems to be.

Eyimofe defies expectations and easy categorization, and anyone hoping for the eventual "triumph of an immigrant" story may come away from this viewing experience feeling seriously downtrodden. That may actually help them to understand the seemingly powerless predicaments both Mofe and Rosa find themselves in.

Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of The Criterion Collection with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.67:1. Criterion's foldout leaflet includes the following information on the transfer:

Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.66:1 [sic]. This new digital transfer was created in 2K resolution on a Spirit DataCine from the 16 mm original camera negative. The 5.1 surround soundtrack was remastered from the original digital master audio files.

This is a nicely organic, and one assumes intentionally gritty, looking presentation that offers a tightly resolved (if quite heavy) grain field. The smaller source format can lead to intermittent deficits in fine detail at times, and there are a couple of kind of curious looking moments where it seems like maybe a defective lens was used (see screenshot 19 and notice the kind of quasi-fringing in evidence), but on the whole detail levels in midrange and especially close-ups are quite commendable. The palette is rather lustrously offered, and there are incredibly vivid pops of color among the general dowdiness of what is more or less ghetto life. Several sequences have a slight yellowish skew which may alter the "naturalness" of the palette.

Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Eyimofe (This Is My Desire features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track that segues in and out of English, but I'm frankly not sure which of what are apparently several native languages spoken in Nigeria might be the other language featured (and there may be more than one, actually). In any case, there are two sets of optional English subtitles, one which translates only whatever Nigerian language(s) is/are being spoken and another which provides subtitles for all of the dialogue, whatever language. (Anyone who can identify the Nigerian language in the film is encouraged to private message me and I can post that information here.) The track itself is very lively, often nicely engaging the side and rear channels for the hustle and bustle of an extremely crowded urban environment. Even supposed "quieter" interior sequences can feature background clamor of crowds and traffic just outside a window or flimsy wall. The score is also very evocative and utilizes the surround channels effectively. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout.

Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Arie and Chuko Esiri (HD; 37:22) is an appealing conversation hosted by Bette Gordon, who was Arie's film studies professor. One kind of odd presentational aspect occurs because Gordon is in the same room as Arie, with Chuko participating via Zoom or something similar, but since Gordon is supposedly talking to both, she often looks straight ahead even though Arie is sitting right next to her. The discussion, though, is very interesting and both Esiri brothers are very insightful about their histories and the challenges of this shoot.


• Melissa O. Adeyemo (HD; 14:46) is an interesting interview with one of the film's producers, who may strike some as looking way too young to be a film producer.


• Deleted Scenes (HD; 4:41) feature optional commentary by Arie and Chuko Esiri.


• Goose (HD; 9:22) is a short film from 2007 directed by Arie and Chuko Esiri, shot while they were students at Columbia and New York University.


• Besida (HD; 11:33) is a 2018 short directed by Chuko and produced by Arie.


• Because Men in Silk Shirts on Lagos Nights (HD; 3:43) is a rather odd quasi-ad for fashion brand Maki Oh.


• Trailer (HD; 1:46)

Additionally, a foldout leaflet contains an essay by Maryam Kazeem, along with cast and crew information and technical data.

Eyimofe (This Is My Desire) Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It's kind of amazing that the back cover of this release calls it "hopeful", because there is an undeniable sadness that actually speaks to how powerful the film's emotions are. The main conversation supplement with the Esiri brothers on this disc get into their own background and experience in Nigeria, and their very unique perspective as what might be termed multi-nationalists (e.g., they have multicultural and in fact multinational backgrounds) gives Eyimofe a really distinctive ambience. Technical merits are first rate and the supplements, while occasionally on the odd side (what is up with that shirt commercial?), are very enjoyable. Recommended.