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The most emotionally honest Nollywood rom-com in recent times.
As the lights came up at the premiere of Call of My Life, a palpable sense of brilliance filled the room, followed by an eruption of applause. Nollywood's romantic comedies have spent years oscillating between high-octane glamour and slapstick comedy. However, it is truly refreshing to witness a rom-com that does not try too hard to convince you that love is perfect; instead, it lets you feel it.
Directed by the visionary Dammy Twitch, produced by the exceptional Blessing Uzzi and written by the formidable Uzoamaka Power, Call Of My Life is a lush, soul-stirring return to the “romance core” for people who truly love LOVE. It is a film that trades cinematic clichés for genuine human connection, wrapped in an aesthetic love letter to ourselves.
Watching it is like seeing the pages of a romance novel come to life; it's soft, funny, and immersive enough to transport you into its own world.
The narrative centers on Soluchi (played with luminous vulnerability by Uzoamaka Power), a call center agent who finds herself at a romantic crossroads. The film shows her journey between two men who represent different ideologies of affection. There is Kalu (Zubby Michael), the older suitor with a traditional, grounded approach to love, and Eli (Andrew Bunting), whose presence brings a youthful, fresh take to Soluchi’s world.
People who loved the chemistry between Uzoamaka and Andrew in My Body, God’s Temple will find that spark reignited here, but with a deeper lore. The film uncovers every jagged edge of romance—the breakups, the loss of oneself, and the terrifying beauty of starting afresh. One particular standout moment is the delivery of this iconic line, "My chest is paining me!"— an emotional moment, but comedic in itself still.
What makes Call of My Life stand out is its refusal to paint characters in black or white. There are no mustache-twirling villains; only people trying to love in the way they know how to. The film allows audiences to sit with these nuances instead of forcing easy judgments. In many ways, that emotional maturity is the film’s greatest strength.
"I want people to feel that anything is possible," Uzoamaka notes. "You don’t have to stay in relationships where you aren’t seen. There is someone out there who is going to match your energy, aura for aura."
Grounding the story is a stellar supporting cast. Beverly Osu and Justin Ugonna (who makes a brilliant, standout big-screen debut) provide the essential mirror Soluchi needs to find herself. Meanwhile, legends Patience Ozokwor and Nkem Owoh sprinkle in comedic brilliance as Soluchi’s parents, reminding us that even in our darkest moments, family remains our foundation.
Visually, the film is stunning. Its cinematography is crisp, while the set design by Anita Ashiru, adds warmth, colour, and life into every frame.
Dammy Twitch, making his feature directorial debut, brings a music-video director’s eye for framing, but balances it with a deep narrative sensitivity. The film leans heavily into vintage Eastern 90s and contemporary Nigeria with green pastures, retro styling, and the warmth of a grandmother’s home.
“When I first read the script, something just hit for me,” Twitch reflects. “The intention of the story was what pulled me into making this my first feature. Everyone brought their A-game, from the legends like Nkem Owoh and Patience Ozokwor to Andrew and Uzo. It was just an amazing cast to work with.”
As the story builds, the atmosphere is heightened by songs from Johnny Drille. Not only does his music provide the film’s emotional pulse, but his appearance on screen with the legendary Cobhams Asuquo adds another layer of the hopeless-romantic magic, almost like a warm embrace. The film’s score becomes just as important as its visuals in conveying a fairytale dream.
The road to Call Of My Life was a long one. Uzoamaka Power first penned the script in 2018, drawing from her personal experience as a call agent. After a nudge from producer Blessing Uzzi, she returned to the draft to further develop the story. It was a labour of love that she admits was "tedious and lonely" compared to the collaborative joy of acting.
"It feels surreal to see something I wrote and starred in come to life," she says, describing the feeling of the premiere as "floating." Her advice to other creators holding onto past work? "Resurrect them. Look at them with new eyes."
Call of My Life is not just a movie for "hopeless romantics"; it’s a film for anyone who believes in the power of affection and the beauty of being truly seen. It serves as a reminder that the love we desire is not a fantasy; it is possible. With its blend of veteran legends and contemporary stars, soul-deep music, and a story that respects the complexity of the heart, this is the Nollywood romance we have been waiting for.
Call of My Life hits cinemas nationwide on May 15. As Dammy cheekily suggests, the film’s impact is best shared, “when you take something home from this movie, you bring the person at home back to the cinemas too.” On the evidence of what he and Blessing have built here, that is not a hard sell.
