Eagle Wings
For writer-director Paul Apel Papier, Eagle Wings happens to be the third movie made in his lifetime. Many of the fictional characters in this expansive military drama bear the names of their real-life prototypes, yet this is a pure fiction. Right in the beginning, Papal offers his film to all the heroic men and women of the Nigerian Air Force in particular and to the forces in general.
In the film, one of the wing commanders, Nura Yusuf, played by Enyinna Nwigwe has just finished performing one of the greatest events of his life marrying the love of his life Dooshima, the role played by Patience Ene Ujah. Less than 48 hours after the wedding however, there is an attack by insurgents. As a result, all armed forces members including Nura do go on high alert as well. Though, Dooshima pleads her husband to negotiate to stay closer to the house, she knows quite well that her husband is a true patriot.
Nura Nurgadirov was flying his jet one day on a mission when his jet suffered damage that made it impossible to control and he was forced to eject from the jet. He was in constant communication with his commanding officers and other pilots but this assumption made it impossible to have constant communication with them.
Other people in the forces as well as Dooshima Command were concerned but planned to search for Nura or his remains. Nura survived the incident and finds himself in a small village where the local people have a number of issues with the government and subsequently with the man and what he represents as well. Nura listens and understands their concerns, but at the same time he hopes someone is looking for him.
Somebody could argue that Eagle Wings is a bit nasty on the Nigerian military as it overdoes it supporting them. But even if it does, it is a visually appealing movie as a cinematic project. That said, there are a few drawbacks. The most significant concern is the last five minutes or so. It does this in a very over the top way.
Set after most of the story six months later, it conforms to all the messages within the story and perfectly wraps all the characters’ development with a bow on it. It is out of place in a story that had been fairly more organic up to that point. Running time is around two hours or longer, including the endings so that removing it will make the film shorter and the themes sharper as it will not spoon feed its audience.
The second weakness makes more sense but is less important. Papel to combat the use of squibs resorted to the use of computerized blood effects. They do make sense since practical effects are likely to be very costly. Unfortunately, so is high quality punchy CGI, and any image of blood being discharged from victims of gunfire in this film is very unrealistic and badly dyed.
Aside from that, though, Eagle Wings is a gripping film. Nwigwe gave a great, commanding, charismatic performance. He is gentle and romantic when looking after his wife and cool as a cucumber when bullets are flying everywhere. Ujah’s Dooshima does go off for periods of more time than I’d prefer to allow us to believe they are indeed a couple. Femi Jacobs and Yakubu Mohammed, as wing commanders in quest of Nura, are a lot of fun to watch.
It is in this respect that Pindem Lot is most deserving praise for his cinematography of the film. Action beats are very exciting and the country landscapes are also stunning. The music by Chuck Okudo is equally captivating in visuals and magnificence.
Eagle Wings has no requirement for the epilogue since it does not work to good effect as well, the imitation blood looks cheap. Then again, the story is very good, the characters are well developed, the acting is very good, and the imagery is superb. Hence, for most part, this grand motion picture by Papel justifies its long duration of around two hours and will satisfy most cinema buffs.
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