“With Difficulty Comes Ease” is a 2024 Nollywood drama by one of the most exciting young filmmakers known for her knack for storytelling that exudes deep emotionalism and cultural relevance, Biodun Stephen. It is a love story wrapped in tales of loss and resilience within Nigerian society. It centers on the life of Aisha, who faces an uncertain and very hard world following the sudden death of her husband. Alone to raise her children and face the pressures of society, Aisha has to find her way along a mine-field-like path of obstacles to secure her dignity and provide for her family.
The movie dwells on the convolutions of grief, revealing the extent of human strength to move on after a very painful loss. Aisha’s is a journey of self-discovery and empowerment in how one can get up to start life all over again amidst oppositions from both outside and within. Very culturally Nigerian, it represents the exacting demands and pressures a widow experiences in most African societies.
“With Difficulty Comes Ease” is starred by Kehinde Bankole, who played Aisha, with Gabriel Afolayan and Toyin Abraham. The movie depicts what fate has meted out to a lady who faces several miseries, all of which come out as highly saddening yet uplifting.
Review:
“With Difficulty Comes Ease” has been huge in its depth of emotion and cultural authenticity. Above all, one singles out the sensitive and detailed direction of Biodun Stephen, which gives life in strong ways to themes this story wishes to put across. The movie brought out excellent ways of emotional and psychological toll from grief but still managed to show the strength and resilience of its protagonist.
Kehinde Bankole gives a striking performance as Aisha, wonderfully capturing her vulnerability and strength. So raw and very emotive, her performance made the personality of Aisha so real to feel for while watching the film. The supporting cast in the film—a good one for that matter—included Gabriel Afolayan as Aisha’s late husband in flashbacks and Toyin Abraham as her supportive but no-nonsense friend.
Not only did the acting help drive these emotions home, but so did the cinematography and score of the film. Close shots and natural lighting provided closeness and intensity for the experiences of Aisha, while the score gave a cultural underpinning to the story by utilizing traditional Nigerian music.
Some reviewers, however, have pointed out that the film at times really drags along, especially in the first act, which may bore some viewers used to quicker dramas. While the way the film depicts grief is interesting, the storyline feels a bit too predictable to some viewers, especially in the way it unravels the ending of Aisha overcoming her struggles.
Even with these minor critiques, “With Difficulty Comes Ease” is a strong and touching film that effectively speaks to love, loss, and the strength of picking up the shards of life again. It details to some extent how resilient the human spirit really can be, together with its finer and more nuanced parts that make for cultural differences in relation to bereavement and recovery within Nigerian society.
Rating:
All in all, “With Difficulty Comes Ease” deserves a well-earned 8/10. The movie is full of heart and culturally diverse drama that strikes at the heart with its powerful performance and storyline. It has to be watched by anyone who relishes emotionally deep stories reflecting the intricate details of real life’s challenges and successes.
