November 2015 (2015-11) (African International Film Festival)[1]
Running time
129 minutes
Country
Nigeria
Language
English
O-Town is a Nigerian crime gangster film written and directed by C.J. Obasi.[2] The film stars Paul Utomi as Peace, a hustler at the center of various issues in the small town of Owerri, also known as O-Town.[3][4] The film's music was composed by Beatoven and Wache Pollen and filming took place in Owerri.[2][5]
Of the film, Obasi has described it as a "crime-gangster thriller". It’s a semi-autobiographical tale because it draws from some of the crime stories I knew and heard; growing up in a small town called Owerri in Imo State. It’s also my exploration into genre Film-making, where I explore basically my love for film."[5]
Story
The film is set in a lightly fictionalised version of Owerri ruled over by a sadistic gangster, The Chairman (Kalu Ikeagwu). The story is told from the viewpoint of an omnipresent, anonymous filmmaker and it follows the travails of Peace (Paul Utomi), a small time hustler with an ambition to become the head of the streets.[4][6]
It first premiered at the 2015 edition of the Africa International Film Festival held in Lagos.[7][8] Nigerian critic Oris Aigbokhaevbolo described it as "overindulgent but brilliant".[6]
Goteborg Film Festival's artistic director Jonas Holmberg described O-Town as a “Tarantinesque” drama.[9]
