The Jailer starts with a crime scene which leaves a young 9-year-old girl fatherless and arrogantly cold-stone hearted. It is a powerful narrative of love and hate, actions and consequences, concealed truth and suspense.
Directed by Damilola Mike Bamiloye and released in June 2021, The Jailer has three main characters; Temilola, the 9-year-old now an adult; Mr. Adegbola, the perceived murderer of Temilola’s dad; and Tunde, Mr. Adegbola’s son.
The Jailer is a well thought out story of deep pain and hurt as well as an intense search for revenge. Almost every scene appears to be drawing a contrast between love and hate, pursuit of reconciliation and pursuit of revenge. The lights and sounds are complementary and help enhance the central message of the movie. Temilola embarks on a search for the dad’s “killer”. Time, they say, heals all wounds, but not for Temilola! She never had a closure, never was healed of the deep wound of her dad’s murder. The only closure she seeks is revenge.
The Director, Damilola Mike-Bamiloye, as usual in his movies, has not only presented the seriousness of the subject matter (deep pain and unforgiveness) but has also thrown in some forms of comedy here and there that could crack your ribs. The actors/actresses are convincing. Mr. Adegbola is emotive and passionate while Temilola is intense, forceful, and strong. Tunde Adegbola is very natural in his role. The use of Yoruba expressions in a few places provides some authenticity in his role.
Overall, one can put all casts in one of three baskets: the offender, the offended and the middlemen. Temilola stands as the offended with quest of avenging her dad’s gruesome murder. Mr. Adegbola the perceived offender has the death penalty hanging on his neck. Tunde Adegbola enters the role of a middleman pleading vigorously for his dad’s life.
Temilola’s mom stands in the middle between her daughter and the jail that holds her soul. The police team stands in the middle between the fierce lady (Temilola) and her victim (Mr. Adegbola). Interestingly, Mr. Adegbola himself had stood between Temilola and her father’s murderers. He intercedes for Temilola’s healing and insists on Tunde Adegbola taking the gospel to her. The children from Mr. Adegbola’s Bible class stand in the gap for him at the police station. Certainly, our Lord Jesus and His shed blood stand in the gap for Mr. Adegbola, Temilola, and Tunde Adegbola.
The many twists in the plot are beautiful. Even more impressive is the display of how God can wade into a stone heart through swift turns in events. Temilola would later become the daughter-in-law of the man she sought to kill, what a paradox! Can we really jail a man who has been set free by the Lord?
The Jailer is full of lessons both hidden and overt. As you watch the movie, you soon discover that things are not always what they seem. The hunted man should in fact have been rewarded if only the hunter could see the whole picture. Mr. Adegbola was not the actual killer. Temilola only discovers later that the man she wanted dead for years was the one who had saved her life.
The depth of pain in the heart can be undeniably real, but this movie makes you come away with the reality that some of our pains may be easier to deal with if we allow God to show us the full picture. Forgiveness is a long windy road which by the mercy of God, is easier only when we realize that we ourselves have been forgiven much.
More lessons:
- Forgiveness can be difficult and unforgiveness justified, but he who continues in unforgiveness has not only created a jail for his victim, but one for himself too.
- When we open our hearts to forgive, the Lord reveals the truth to us, and the truth sets us free.
- The Lord can change anyone through His sovereign power, and He alone reserves the right to either justify or condemn any offender.
- The Lord can allow a downturn of events in His mercy in order for us to have the needed turn around.
The Jailer is a must watch movie.
It has a high entertainment value but at the same time provokes deep thinking and soul searching. Be warned, this movie will help you set free those jailed in your heart.
The review of this movie will be incomplete without mentioning the powerfully captivating song by the Mr. Adegbola in the peak of his ordeal, “Jesus stopped the storm. Jesus stopped the storm. Jesus can do anything for me!”
