Kayode Kasum steps into new territory with Alo, his first direct-to-YouTube offering. The short film anthology spotlights everyday Nigerians navigating love, hustle, ambition, and heartache—told in bite-sized stories that carry surprising emotional weight. With a stellar cast including Deyemi Okanlawon, Damilola Adegbite, Femi Jacobs, Sophie Alakija, and Omowumi Dada, Alo arrives with quiet promise.

Is it worth your screen time? Let’s break it down.

A Tapestry of Lagos Stories

Set in the ever-vibrant city of Lagos, Alo is structured as an anthology of four short films, each zooming in on a different slice of urban Nigerian life. Whether it’s the grind of survival or the search for identity, each episode explores a different emotional terrain, anchored by characters that feel both familiar and fresh.

The stories include:

• Roles Reversed – A man is forced to manage his home after his wife’s health scare and gains a deeper appreciation for her role.
• Hidden Figure – A plus-sized fashion designer pushes through judgment from friends and strangers alike to pursue her dream.
• The Thing with Feathers – A young man relocates to Lagos to provide for his sister, only to find that survival in the big city is tougher than expected.
• Road to Spotlight – An aspiring content creator juggles ambition, setbacks, and doubt while trying to build a name for herself.

Each short is distinct, yet together they paint a unified picture of resilience and vulnerability in modern-day Nigeria.

Everyday Emotions, Real Performances

The performances across Alo are consistent and grounded, helping each story hit its emotional beats. Jessica Orishane delivers a standout performance as Ify in Hidden Figure, fully inhabiting her character’s emotional arc. She brings quiet depth to a woman determined to be seen for her talent, not her size.

In The Thing with Feathers, Mofehintola Jebutu brings vulnerability and dignity to Femi, a young man learning Lagos the hard way. His simple act of finally buying suya with his first salary—a moment of small triumph—is one of the anthology’s most moving scenes.

The rotating cast across each story allows for fresh dynamics, and while not every performance is remarkable, the authenticity of the delivery elevates even the simpler plots.

Simplicity Meets Style

Alo isn’t trying to reinvent the visual language of Nollywood—and that’s a good thing. The film is simply and smartly shot, allowing the characters and dialogue to remain front and center. The cinematography doesn’t distract, though it occasionally shines: a standout moment comes in Road to Spotlight, where Sophie Alakija’s Naomi stares off into space at work, her dreams slipping into frame.

The production avoids unnecessary flash and instead leans into clean visuals and relatable locations. This subtlety works especially well given the grounded nature of the stories being told.

Relatable, but Not Without Flaws

Alo resonates because it reflects everyday struggle, joy, and perseverance. But a few missteps in execution hold it back.

Product placement—particularly by sponsor Tecno—veers into the unbelievable. In The Thing with Feathers, Femi loses his phone not once but twice, and is gifted a new one each time. While it may serve the sponsor’s goals, it undercuts the realism the story tries to build.

Road to Spotlight also falters in logic: after selecting a dress for a client, Naomi struggles to deliver it via public transport and the dress is ruined. It’s odd that someone who was initially willing to spend on an Uber wouldn’t simply charter the keke to protect the garment. These oversights break immersion, even in stories meant to feel grounded.

Verdict

Alo is a heartfelt anthology that succeeds in showing slices of life rarely given screen time in mainstream Nollywood. While it stumbles with product placement and a few logic gaps, its sincerity and emotional core remain intact.

It’s a beautiful, well-paced watch that you can finish in one sitting, totally worth your time.