Review: "I Like It Here" A must see movie !

Kandey Alhassan December 03, 2020 0

Over the weekend, I got an opportunity to watch the private screening of a new movie titled “I Like It Here” and I couldn't help but put down my thoughts about it. I rate this movie 8 over 10!

It is a generation transition movie with its setting in the capital city of Ghana, Accra. The film was written and directed by Amartei Armar, director of “Vagabonds”.  The film was produced by Yemoh Ike.

“I like It Here” is an ‘autobiography-fiction’ as said by the director and I must confess it's really mindboggling.

The most fascinating thing is that this very scene about to be discussed was shot on green screen. Yes green screen! How many times have you heard a Ghanaian movie was shot on green screen? Sounds incredible right?  Now listen, it's credibly possible! 

“I Like It Here” is  about a young man named Takyi who was born and bred in the States by a Ghanaian father and an American mother. He was named after his grandfather, Takyi. He has lived all his life in the states.

Before the death of his grandfather, who happened to be one of the first doctors in Ghana, said to him how much it’s good to live in Ghana and how he, the grandfather ‘likes it here”.

Takyi, was going back to the state. He bid goodbye to his father and boarded a taxi to the airport. In the taxi, they were caught in traffic and in there he met a life changing experience.

The opening: Two voices speaking. One of an elderly man and the other of a young man. The elderly asking about another man whom was later fetched for.

The second scene saw the elderly man and the young man was who was fetched, called Takyi, bidding each other goodbye.

Takyi sat in the taxi and didn’t want to be bothered. The taxi driver asked of his name and reluctantly replied him “Takyi”. The taxi driver without being asked started conversing with Takyi who gave the “stop bothering me” impression but Kekeli, the driver, never bothered and continued his “annoying” but funny conversation and even went to the extent of offering Takyi water he brought from a hawker.

It’s common to meet the likes of Kekeli in Accra when you board a taxi. A lot of these drivers are friendly and conversational. Some will talk to you about their personal lives, share with you their life’s experiences, some will talk about politics and advice you. They are accommodating like that.

He engaged Takyi till he learnt about Takyi’s background. Kekeli also told him a brief about himself and how he loves being Ghanaian.

Away from the traffic, the taxi in which Takyi riding was suddenly stopped by an unknown physically built man who was profusely sweating. He dragged Kekeli, the taxi driver, out to where he had parked his car. 

Takyi angered by the scene as he was in a hurry, came down from the car, took the keys from the driver's seat to open the boot of the car for his luggage. He looked at his wrist watch. He has since been asking Kekeli for shortcuts to the airport when they met the traffic and now they were stopped by someone? To do what? He got impatient. 

Few moments later the strange man came back dragging  Takyi with all might as if to even carry him to where he took Kekeli.

This very scene caught me up in a great suspense as I wondered if it were not a planned robbery. People have fallen victims of such and so I wondered what next was going to happen to these two, Takyi and Kekeli.

Upon reaching where the car broke down, there was a woman in labor who was almost due.

What will you do if you were stopped by an unknown man and his wife is in dire need of help? Meanwhile you are in a hurry to catch a flight?

The three managed to transfer her from the broken car to the taxi.

 Kekeli began driving haphazardly as the man will not stop shouting at him to drive faster.  The stranger forced Takyi to help deliver his wife as the child's head was almost out.

Takyi took his clothes from the bag to use it as ‘bedspread’ while he encouraged the woman to push.

She finally did the last push and oh my God! At this point it will not be so fair on my part should I tell you what happened after.

Did the baby come out alive or dead? Will Takyi proceed to the airport or will he stay back?

“I LIKE IT HERE” is a MUST see by all!

By Kandey Alhassan