As the Christmas season approaches, Nigerian cinema welcomes 'Stitches', a romantic drama that offers a refreshing alternative to conventional love stories. Directed by Ghanaian filmmaker Shirley Frimpong-Manso in her Nollywood debut and produced by BRS Studios, the film arrives at a time when audiences seek heartfelt narratives that restore faith in relationships.
A Carefully Woven Narrative
The film follows Boma (Adaobi Dibor), a talented fashion designer from modest beginnings whose life takes an unexpected turn following her mother's death. Her mother's estranged twin sister, a prominent fashion mogul in high society, extends an opportunity for Boma to enter Lagos's elite circles. This sets the stage for a modern fairy tale that explores whether love can truly bridge the gap between different social classes or if ambition and hidden secrets will destroy everything.
What distinguishes Stitches from typical romance films is its deliberate pacing. Rather than rushing through emotional beats, the film unfolds gradually, much like the careful work of a seamstress creating a masterpiece. The developing relationship between Boma and Mofe, the son of elite socialite Remi Martins (played with elegant restraint by Regina Askia), feels authentic and earned rather than manufactured for dramatic effect.
Character Depth and Visual Storytelling
One of the film's significant achievements is its treatment of Boma as a complete character with her own ambitions and agency. She isn't merely a romantic lead pining for love but a determined professional pursuing her fashion career while navigating complex emotional territory. The film refreshingly allows her to pursue both love and career without forcing her to choose between them.
The visual elements of Stitches contribute significantly to its storytelling. The cinematography captures Lagos's high society with precision, creating a world that feels both luxurious and authentic. Costume designer Yolanda Okereke's work deserves special recognition, as each outfit reflects Boma's personal evolution, vulnerability, and growing confidence. Fashion serves as narrative tool rather than mere decoration.
Areas for Improvement
Despite its many strengths, Stitches isn't without flaws. The film's ambitious scope sometimes exceeds its execution, particularly in handling supporting characters who often feel underdeveloped and serve more as narrative placeholders than fully realized individuals. Several subplots could be removed entirely without affecting the core story, and the runtime of over two hours begins to feel excessive in the final act.
The deliberate pacing that works so effectively in establishing the central relationship becomes somewhat draggy toward the conclusion. Tighter editing could have transformed this into a more impactful 100-minute experience without sacrificing its emotional depth.
Final Verdict
Stitches represents a mature approach to romance that trusts its audience's intelligence. It demonstrates that chemistry can be built through subtle glances, meaningful silences, and genuine connection rather than dramatic declarations and physical intensity. The film prioritizes elegance over spectacle and genuine emotion over manufactured conflict.
While the narrative occasionally meanders and some characters lack depth, the central love story remains compelling throughout. Stitches succeeds in its primary objective: making viewers believe in love again, if only for two hours in a cinema. It's a technically accomplished, beautifully performed film that offers a welcome alternative to more frantic romantic dramas.
Stitches is now showing in cinemas nationwide. The film is directed by Shirley Frimpong-Manso and written by Frimpong-Manso, Uche Ateli, and Thecla Uzozie. The cast includes Adaobi Dibor, Dakore Egbuson-Akande, Regina Askia, and Obinna Okenwa.
