Nemsia Studios returns to Prime Video with Finding Nina, directed by Famous Odion Iraoya. One thing about Nemsia Studios is their consistency in delivering new stories, but does this latest release live up to expectations? Let’s find out.

A Promising Synopsis with a Rushed Spark

The film’s synopsis reads: Renowned photographer JB returns to Northern Nigeria to reconnect with his roots. A photo of his childhood love, Nina, sparks a surreal journey of memory, love, and self-discovery, forcing him to confront the past and rediscover who he truly is. While this premise holds plenty of intrigue, the moment that supposedly ignites JB’s search for Nina feels rushed and lacks emotional weight. There’s no compelling buildup to explain why he suddenly begins dreaming of someone who, until that instant, seemed absent from his thoughts.

Instead of allowing the narrative to breathe, the film introduces a random love triangle. After finally finding Nina, JB inexplicably shifts his affections to Raiyah, a woman he has shown little to no interest in prior. Even his relationship with Nina feels hurried, making her deep hurt after only a week together seem disproportionate and underdeveloped

Cultural Beauty Overshadowed by Weak Writing

Though the synopsis promises a personal journey of self-discovery, the film also uses JB’s experiences to highlight the beauty of Northern Nigeria and offer glimpses into its rich culture. This cultural backdrop is one of the film’s strongest points. However, the writing and pacing fail to match the potential of the setting. The so-called love triangle never feels fully fleshed out, and conflicts—particularly between Raiyah and JB—come across as forced rather than organic. We see Raiyah’s jealousy, but her quarrels with JB lack any real narrative payoff.

Performances That Hover Around Average

The cast boasts talented names such as Tomi Ojo, Jammal Ibrahim, Paul Sambo, and Ijapari Ben-Hirki, all delivering decent, if not remarkable, performances. The standout is young Ahmad Isa as Abdul, who displays a natural ease on screen and is certainly one to watch. Unfortunately, the dialogue undermines the actors’ efforts.

A Visual Feast That Outshines the Story

If there’s one area where Finding Nina excels, it’s in its technical execution. The visuals are striking, with a bold, confident colour grade. The cinematography shines particularly at the art gallery, capturing people engaging with the photographs beautifully. Photography itself becomes almost a character within the film, intertwined with the story’s emotional beats. The location choices are equally commendable, offering stunning shots that elevate the film’s aesthetic appeal.

The Road Back to Raiyah

It’s always refreshing to see Nollywood step away from Lagos and spotlight another region’s beauty and culture. That said, JB’s convenient discovery of Nina might feel too easy at first glance. However, when the story circles back to Raiyah as the person he needed all along, that convenience starts to make more sense. It reframes the journey not as a search for Nina, but as an emotional arc leading JB to confront his true feelings and priorities. The conclusion, while imperfect in execution, closes the loop in a way that brings the film’s emotional throughline into sharper focus.

Still, it’s hard to ignore how muddled the emotional beats feel. JB’s annoyance with Raiyah is baffling, especially since nothing in his earlier actions showed any romantic interest in her. And once Nina enters the picture, his sudden pivot to Raiyah undermines the believability of both relationships.

Verdict

Finding Nina struggles with its identity. Marketed as a straightforward love story, it unexpectedly shifts into a love triangle involving two women who look like each other so closely they could be twins, a twist that feels like it appears out of thin air. While the film offers cultural richness, gorgeous visuals, and a strong sense of place, its inconsistencies, underdeveloped emotional arcs, and lack of narrative depth prevent it from reaching its full potential.

An easy watch that could have been something more, Finding Nina ultimately earns 2.25 out of 5 stars.

Rating: 2.25/5