Mofe is an electrician who dreams of working in Spain. Rosa is a hairdresser trying to raise money to move to Italy. Neither of them ever leaves Lagos in the film that tells their stories. Eyimofe (This Is My Desire), directed by twin brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri, is a patient, beautifully shot portrait of ordinary people caught between hope and the city’s pressures. It drew international acclaim and a place in the prestigious Criterion Collection.
The directors and the two stories
Arie and Chuko Esiri are twin brothers from Nigeria who studied film abroad. Eyimofe was their first feature film. The film is divided into two chapters. The first follows Mofe, played by Jude Akuwudike. The second follows Rosa, played by Temi Ami-Williams. Both characters want to leave Nigeria for Europe. The film explores the obstacles, debts, family duties and tragedies that stand in their way.
Eyimofe was shot on 16mm film, giving Lagos a warm, textured look rarely seen in Nigerian cinema.
Berlinale, Criterion and Lagos
The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2020. Critics praised its realism, performances and cinematography, comparing it to the work of great international directors. The Criterion Collection, known for releasing important films from around the world, added Eyimofe to its catalogue. The city itself is central to the film, with its markets, traffic and bureaucracy shaping the characters’ lives.
The film anticipated the “japa” wave of emigration that became a major topic in Nigeria in the following years. Eyimofe is part of a new wave of independent Nigerian films aimed at festivals and international audiences.
Where to watch and the performances
The film has been available on streaming and home video in several countries. Jude Akuwudike, a veteran stage and screen actor, and Temi Ami-Williams, in her first major film role, give quiet, restrained performances. Critics noted that the film trusts its actors to show emotion without big speeches, which makes the characters’ struggles feel real.
After Berlin, the film played at festivals in other countries and won awards, building its reputation before its wider release. Mofe and Rosa never reach Europe. Their film did, and it carried a quieter, truer picture of Lagos than many audiences abroad had seen before.
