PEOPLE THOUGHT ‘DAMAGE’ WAS TOO GRAPHIC’ – UCHE JOMBO

Sitting at the table waiting to have a chat with Uche Jombo, I scan the horizon hoping she won’t be late. I needn’t have worried! At two on the dot, Uche Jombo sweeps in!
That’s the word! Sweeps in… and sits across with a gorgeous smile. Looking quite fresh after her trip from Kenya, what first strikes you when you first meet Uche is her petiteness then her energy! I notice she came out of a new, sleek, black jeep. I ask if that is a replacement for the one she lost in an accident. She smiles coquettishly, revealing nothing. Constantly on the go, if you aren’t careful Uche will leave you slacking! She delves immediately into her new project, ‘Damage’ and I ask her, curious, why she decided to shoot a movie on domestic violence. She replies, ‘Damage’ is a story that needs to be told. Domestic violence is a social issue that has alot of women suffering in silence so I decided to shoot a film about it. It was necessary to show how it affects not just the couple but even the children in the home’. And do you think Nigerians are ready for this? I ask. Uche replies, ‘They are more than ready! When I first shot the film, people thought it was too graphic… that I needed to edit some scenes out. Then incidentally, in the news, a lady (God rest her soul) lost her life as a result of domestic violence. It all made sense then. Women are not just the victims but men too!’ I mention that I see that she and Kalu (Ikeagwu) really had a go at each other. She laughs; ‘I gave as good as I got! You should see the movie’.
‘Damage’ premieres in Nigeria on the 31st of July 2011 at Silverbird Cinemas, Victoria island and starts screening in cinemas nationwide on the 5th of August. Don’t be told! Be there! For more info check www.damagemovie.com
photo credit: Moussa Moussa