Watch Dry

Dry is a captivating Nigerian drama film released in 2015, directed by Stephanie Linus, and starring Ferdinand Afo, Rekiya Attah, and Samuel Beavis. The movie portrays the harsh reality of child marriage, obstetric fistula, female genital mutilation, and the repurcussions of social inequality in a rural African village. The story revolves around Dr. Zara (played by Stephanie Okereke Linus), a medical doctor working in a remote village in Nigeria. She is a dedicated practitioner, determined to improve the health care of her community, and is passionate about helping women who have fallen victim to child marriage and female genital mutilation. Her life changes significantly when she meets a young girl named Halima (played by Zubaida Ibrahim Fagge), who becomes an obstetric fistula victim after being forced to marry at a young age.

Halima's story is a heart-wrenching one, and it resonates with Zara, who identifies with Halima's plight because she, too, was once a victim of child marriage. Through Halima's story, the film highlights the harsh and often devastating realities of life for many young girls in Nigeria who are subjected to early marriage and female genital mutilation.

As Zara fights to save Halima's life, she struggles to raise the awareness of the community of the harmful cultural practices that lead to such tragedies. She also battles to gain the support of her colleagues at the hospital who are resistant to providing free medical care for girls like Halima.

Throughout the film, the characters face challenges, and the storyline brings to light the social, economic, and cultural factors that play a significant role in the perpetuation of gender inequality. The film highlights the view of society that women are of less importance and value compared to men, and that they must conform to certain expectations.

The characters in Dry are well developed and play their respective roles convincingly. Stephanie Okereke Linus portrays Dr. Zara's character with immense conviction, highlighting the depth of her commitment and her individual struggles. Zubaida Ibrahim Fagge portrays Halima's character with nuanced emotion, taking the audience through the various stages of trauma that Halima endures due to the harmful cultural norms deeply entrenched in her society.

The cinematography is excellent and captures the beauty of rural Nigeria. The film also showcases the country's vibrant cultural heritage with its music and dance scenes. Dry is a perfect mix of emotion, culture, and social commentary that brings to light the harsh realities of everyday life for many girls in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The message of the film is clear, and the challenge to the audience is to confront deep-rooted gender inequalities and make changes to improve the lives of women and girls.

The film's soundtrack is a blend of traditional Nigerian music and more contemporary sounds. The effects and sound design are well crafted and bring depth to the scenes' emotions. The film boasts of a production design that does justice to its rural setting, authentic costumes, and makeup, making the experience very believable.

In conclusion, Dry is a powerful and moving drama that confronts the way society views gender and the harmful cultural norms that unfairly affect women in rural areas of Africa. It is a testament to the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. The film will hold your attention and make you reflect on the challenges women and girls face in societies where their place is viewed as inferior. Dry is a must-watch for anyone who cares about gender equality and the fight for social justice.

Dry is a 2015 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 55 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.6.