FILM REVIEW: Mary’s Option produced by Seun Adejumobi
Reviewed By Ajibare Abioye
Hey folks! You’re welcome to another gospel movie review. Today, we’ll be taking a look at “Mary’s Option”, written and produced by Oluwaseun Adejumobi, from the stables of Fruit Bearers’ Films and Glory Land Outreach.
The opening tune was quite in line with the tone of the film. The title font and opening credits were nice. Its original soundtrack was nice although the transition from track to track was a bit choppy. It was good directing there by John Oguntuase; the makeup and costuming too were good. I think one of the things that make this movie stand out is the dynamic camera movements. This was classic Kunle Adepoju; it was top-notch.
The actors all played their roles well. When David Adeyemi first appeared as Rufus, it looked like he was reciting his lines but he later settled into the role and I liked his mature performance as an adult last child and brother to two elder sisters. Lara Ayoola, whose performance in “Akobi Laaroye” won her the Best Actress award at Gospel Film Festival 2019, was at it again here. Ayobami Olakunle, who is now Ayobami Abraham, also played Mary fantastically. Kayode Owojori, who plays Chief Durosanya in the ongoing series from the Mount Zion Film Productions – Abattoir, was Daddy Amos here and he put in a remarkable performance. Other cast also did very well.
If you ask me, I’d say that my favourite character was Laura, played by Lara Ayoola. I think she was the best developed character in “Mary’s Option”. Let’s examine the source material: the Bible talks about Martha on only a few occasions, that is, when she hosted Jesus as a guest in her house, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and when she served at a dinner in honour of Jesus. That’s not too much to work on, yet the writer fleshes out a Laura character that has a solid back-story. She’s a go-getter, self-motivated, a busy lady that has no time for frivolities. What I like the most about her character is the consistency she displays in her thoughts, words and actions.
However, the subtitles had a lot of errors. Then, I think that the attempt to input the alabaster box story by having Laura dream about Mary giving the perfume to Daddy Amos didn’t really work. The scene had some thoughtful dialogue but for me, if the movie had ended where the Douglas children were reflecting on the resurrection of Rufus, it would have been perfect and the movie would have ended on a high of profoundness. Also, the soundtrack played at the closing credits that sounded quite dull because it didn’t have instrumentals made it feel a bit like an anti-climax.
The message of “Mary’s Option” is powerful and I believe that we constantly need reminders like this that help us examine ourselves amidst the hustle and bustle of life. The core question I took from it was: “God, what would You have me do?” I like the fact that this wasn’t a movie that painted Mary as the one who always knew what was important and Laura as the one who placed other things above sitting at the feet of Christ. Come to think of it, the Bible doesn’t categorically state what Jesus and Mary were talking about but the topic chosen for it in “Mary’s Option” was perfect and in line with what the original story teaches. It’s a message for everyone and makes us see that Jesus is the reason for our living. Acts 17:28 says that in Him, we live, move and have our being. In five years, Mary had been into office work, fashion designing and events planning; three professions in five years. It was rather worse for Laura who had been in three courtships in a single year. Daddy Amos’ message is the same to us all: “…whatever we do on earth that has no eternal value or everlasting impact on humanity; it’s like fetching drums of water and pouring it right in the basket. Waste, it is.”
Initially, after watching Mary’s Option, I felt I would have loved if we’d seen what God eventually told Mary to do, but I saw that the first thing God did for her was to cause her to be. She’d done different things but didn’t find fulfillment in them. When she began to ask God what He would have her do, He gave her peace and rest. She said so herself: “…that’s the needful thing – to come to God for rest and I’ve chosen that option.” So, I realized that this movie is not merely saying that we should seek God for what to DO as a profession, but is placing first, for us to BE with Him. Mark 3:14 says that Jesus appointed His disciples to first of all, BE with Him, after which He would send them to preach, to DO something. So, I’d say that this is a time for us to sit at the feet of Jesus, to be with Him, to know Him more, growing in love and becoming more like Him. I think the past four months of lockdown would have revealed where our priorities lie in life. I pray that we will become all God wills for us and also do what He’s called us to do, in Jesus’ name.
Alright, we’ve come to the end of the review of “Mary’s Option”. Till I come your way again with my next review, Stay Blessed !!!
Link to the movie:
https://youtu.be/Spk6LaghiCY
