TIPTOPSTARS

Just like volumes of books can be written, countless films can be produced to describe the lives Africans live in the diaspora. Simply put, it is all about drama! Else, how can one explain the fact that blood sisters, born of African parents, custodians of virtuous values, would quickly get fed up with each other and opt to part ways, upon the demise of the former. Rhetoric!

Scores of other vices plague African families abroad, but the above, to Lilian Ndi, producer of a much-awaited Cameroonian movie filmed in the United States is enough to whip in great concerns. “How African families in the diaspora easily disintegrate is a major issue which needs to be urgently addressed, I strongly believe,” she told TIPTOPSTARS Editor when we contacted the young film producer to tell us more about Sister Dearest, the said production. “We in the seventh art must address such issues in our movies and I’m convinced by so doing, we would go a long way in educating people on the importance of living as one,” she went further.

According to the story in Sister Dearest whose world premiere is billed for March 22, 2014, four sisters are left behind after their parents depart in a tragic car crash. They could live in peace and still have all materially, financially and otherwise. But by some ill-fated twist, they opt to put asunder this admirable sister-bond the Nwentis had hitherto enjoyed. What this unfortunate disarray delivers is what you would discover in the 90-minute long home video directed and edited by John Uche (with Nick Zemora as D.O.P).

According to the producer, the movie is crafted in such a way that it would leave an indelible impact on its audience. “Through Sister Dearest, we intend to touch lives and we would be glad if this is attained,” Lilian Ndi, herself a spectacular actress told us from her Maryland abort. She added that she was so excited about the movie. “It’s a breakthrough in my career and I’m thankful to God about it.”

However, it was not a piece of cake to put Sister Dearest together. “Not only did I have to go deep into my pocket to make over sixteen thousand, five hundred dollars available for the production, I also had to grapple with people’s different and always tight schedules,” the producer of the up-coming movie explained. She revealed further: “We also had some location difficulties but thank God things were sorted out at the end of the day.”

Sister Dearest will be premiered in an event its producers say will be an occasion to honour the movie’s artists and technicians who did a beautiful job. “We are therefore urging film lovers in the USA and elsewhere to join us at 8844 Washington BLVD, Jessup, MD, 20794 as from 8pm,” Lilian Ndi said. She added: “It’s going to be a great event, with great people, just like the great movie project they’ll be coming to support.”

Shot between August and September last year, Sister Dearest is produced under the banner of Lilian Entertainment Productions, a movie production outfit run from Maryland, USA. Starring in the movie are Pridine Fru, Lilian Ndi, Kang Quintus, Claudio Oben Eyong Jose, Rajah Roger Muntu, Obaseki Paula, Mirabel Asongong, Jenille Alison Mungo and others.

Meantime, Lilian Ndi is known to be one of the frontline Cameroonian actresses in the diaspora, having featured in several movies including African Man and Deep Sea Diving. Her vision in the seventh art has gone beyond set performance. “By God’s grace, I’ll be a regular producer henceforth,” she revealed.