With Difficulty Comes Ease, the latest offering from Nemsia Studios—the same team behind the award-winning Breath of Life—naturally piqued our interest. We couldn’t wait to see what this film had in store.

Plot

The film follows Zainab as she navigates life after her husband’s death. She’s beset by financial difficulties after her brother-in-law and his wife abscond to Canada with her late husband’s money, a hostile mother-in-law who disdains her for being childless, and a pregnancy she chooses to keep secret till she finds help in Rayyan.

Despite facing separate struggles, Zainab and Rayyan’s stories connect through the strained familial relationships that arise after they convert to Islam.

Story

We need more narratives that reflect the authentic Nigerian experience, and this film delivers just that. This film focuses on the societal challenges faced by a recently widowed woman. The issues presented are relatable to any Nigerian audience, and Zainab being Muslim adds complexity to the story. The story unfolds at a measured pace, building steadily without rushing to a resolution.

The film embraces several themes and sub-themes from loss, corruption, and religion with authenticity and originality, making it a compelling drama. Shedding light on the lives of religious converts, administrative corruption, and Widowhood in Northern Nigeria.

Performances

Uzoamaka Anuinoh and Michelle Dede were perfectly cast as sisters. Anuinoh delivers a heartfelt performance as Zainab, drawing us into her character’s struggles. Caleb Richards, who plays Rayyan, delivered his strongest performance yet. Michelle Dede, who doesn’t act as frequently, shines as Nene, providing a solid performance.

A standout moment was when Zainab repeatedly said “It’s his” in Hausa to her mother-in-law, which was deeply moving.

Technical Aspects

With Difficulty Comes Ease has a decent picture quality, with colour grading that matches the film’s tone. The setting, locations, and props also look very original and convincing. Unfortunately, the general use of music in the film is quite disappointing. The film failed to use a compelling soundtrack to elevate its emotional scenes.

Furthermore, whilst some transitions of scenes in the film seem well thought out, others appear to be very disjointed.

Final Thoughts

Every event in the film felt believable. While Nollywood sometimes veers into implausibility by trying to do too much, this story remained simple and direct, addressing topical issues like how religion affects family relationships. Nemsia Studios demonstrates their commitment to exploring faith in films with titles like God Calling and Breath of Life that focus on the Christian faith, and now With Difficulty Comes Ease on the Muslim faith.

The film ticks nearly all boxes of originality making it a compelling and informative heartfelt drama. However, the resolution should have come a bit earlier, the film appears overstretched with a runtime of 1hr48mins.

Verdict

With Difficulty Comes Ease is enjoyable and emotional, delivering a strong story with commendable performances. Korede Azeez has carefully created a niche. The film is currently on Prime Video.

Rating 3.5/5