Analytical view of Lion Heart: Viewing it with four different lenses

Analytical view of Lion Heart: Viewing it with four different lenses. 

The film Lion Heart explores the theme of family business, gender roles and cultural identity. Produced in 2018 shows how a woman who takes over her father’s business in Transportation and must deal with saving the business and still scaling through, even while it is male dominated. This movie while seen in this point of view, can also be analyzed by different lens; the formal media analysis, the oppositional gaze, the male gaze and the Marxist theory. All this lens say something they depict, something that an ordinary eye can’t see in the Lion’s heart movie. In all, Lion Heart is a movie that shows the promotion of gender equality in Nigeria society.

However, to introduce formal media analysis, the use of various elements to explore visual storytelling in The Lion’s heart. Cinematography used in Lion’s heart directed by Genevieve Nnaji to enhance story telling especially to portray characters, cultural context and others. In the film, the use of close-up shots to show the emotions of the characters, like that of Adaeze Obiagu whenever she was faced with the challenges. The extreme close-up shot to clarify what is being passed across. Also, the use of low-key lighting; when Adaeze is faced with so much to do, to save her father’s company. Lastly, the use of shallow focus in the beginning scene, where Adaeze was in a talk with the gang leader of a group of touts. Aside from cinematography, there is the mis-en-scene, what do we see before the camera? The costume, settings and props, lighting and so on. In the movie, mis-en-scene can be seen in the costume of characters to show their role in the movie. For example, Mr. Obiagu [Adaeze’s father], his costume throughout showed he was a chief and he was rich, that of Adaeze’s costume to show her professionalism as a businesswoman, compared to others in the film. The setting of the film was in Enugu Nigeria. The bustling streets, cities, family houses, business office, which makes it grounded in a Nigerian context. So, this element tells a story when looking at it with an armed vision.

Additionally, the movie’s narrative structure[to-do-rov] started with equilibrium and ended with a return to equilibrium. Although many might say it was a disruption, the beginning scene was to just develop the plot and strike a balance in the movie. The disruption phase started to develop when Adaeze’s father fell ill, and someone had to take over while he was away. Then there is the recognition of disruption where Adaeze and her uncle finds out the debt her father was owing. An attempt to repair the disruption when they had thirty days to pay up the debt, and all was looking not to work. Then the uncle comes up with a plan for Lion’s heart transportation to merge with Maikano Motors. The return of equilibrium is when the debts were paid, and they got back the reputation. Also, Adaeze was made the CEO after father’s retirement. This linear narrative formed the character formation in the movie; where the hero is Adaze Obiagu, the false hero; Samuel, the villain; Igwe pascal, the father; Chief Ernest Obiagu, the donor; Alhaji Maikano, the helper; Hamza Maikano. To round off, this narrative structure create tools that help systematically know how a movie is structured.

Also, sound design plays an important role by putting viewers in the energetic Nigeria environment being realistic in the use of ambient sounds and non-diegetic sound for the viewers to relate the scene being played out. An example is seen in the time duration of 1:05:23-1:05:56. The foley sound from the beginning scene. In the time duration of 00:52-00:56. While that in place the performance of various characters in action. It shows how viewers would be able to relate with whatever is going on in that scene, either the posture, or the gestures or even the facial expressions and eyeline. Meanwhile the editing to explain the urgency on Adaeze to save her family’s business. The quick cuts to explain how time was not on their side to pay up the debt in thirty days. The transitions between scenes were smooth, often making it blend with the dialogues that shows intimate relationships and professional at play. In short, all these elements contribute adequately to the perfection of this movie. Designing it in such a way that each scene, role, gives the viewers understanding about the movie

However, using the oppositional gaze for this movie, the gaze of Adaeze says a whole lot, especially as she is a female and leader in a male possessed industry. Using an oppositional gaze to critically analyze this movie Lion’s heart, oppositional gaze is an act of rebellion and recovery of who they are [black females]. Lion’s heart is a Nigerian movie, which means it is black related. What gaze did Adaeze put up in this movie? In a society, where the leading of a woman is neglected and despised, but Lion’s heart shows how a woman strives through a male dominated industry and competitors just to save her family’s business. To this she puts up a gaze of dominancy and elegancy. For example, when Adaeze is in her workplace, her attitude towards work is different when she is at home. This gaze would allow viewers especially female viewers to see and celebrate that women’s voices and experiences are being celebrated.

Asides what gaze was the woman giving to recover her agency; Male gaze seen when the woman is also being looked at in a way of pleasure satisfaction. In lion heart, Adaeze while trying to put in all her best, but still encounters men who sees her as an object for pleasures. For example, when Adaeze seeks a loan to pay up her father’s debt, there is a camera close-up shot on her cleavage to enlighten us of where the male banker was looking at. Time duration of 32:18-32:24. Another example seen in the time duration of 34:44-35:07. When they asked the last man to name his price to get things done. Also, Arinze [Adaeze’s Ex] his surroundings was male gaze attractive. Although, this movie rejects to-be-look-at-ness, but seeing clips that shows object of pleasure is to show on how a woman navigates through the struggles of being dominated by males. So, surrounded by such society, she tends to break the shell to be identified as a leader and not as a tool, or what women are described as in our today’s world.  

Lastly, the economic intention behind this movie, using the Marxist theory to critically analyze the Lion heart. According to Karl Marx the rich remain rich, and the poor remain poor, due to capitalism in the economy. In Lionheart, one of the movie’s themes is family business, which is classified as social inheritance to Karl Marx. The elite privilege given, that as long one belongs to Obiagu’s family, he/she is entitled to a share. This is relatable, for example Samuel, who is chasing a higher position, doesn’t seem to have any opportunity, because he is not a part of the family. But when Chief Ernest falls ill, he passes it to his brother [God’s will], and even after the chief’s retirement he passes it still to his daughter. So, in relation to today’s world, the wealth obtained by one person goes in circle, were those who are not part of the labor chain partake heavily, because of either they are part of family or connections made for them.

In conclusion, analyzing this movie with all these lens makes us understand the depth of how much this movie delves. From formal media analysis, down to the Marxist lens, all of them depicts something that an ordinary eye can’t see, unless seen with an armed vision. Genevieve’s Nnaji movie tends to relate to Nigerian context, bringing its viewers back home to be able to relate with the movie. It also breaks the glass between women that subjects them to no or little significance in the society, bringing them to know how much their voice matters. To round off, Lion heart is a movie that centers around women leadership and cultural appreciation.