Watch The Lost Cafe

The Lost Cafe is a heartwarming and thought-provoking Nigerian drama from 2018 directed by Kenneth Gyang. Set in a remote Nigerian village, the film tells the story of a young woman named Ose (Tunde Aladese) who returns home after a long absence to reconnect with her grandmother, Agnes (Belinda Effah), and the ancestral home she left behind.

Ose is a young woman in her late 20s who is struggling to find her place in the world. She has a successful career as a marketing executive in Lagos, but she still feels disconnected from her roots and is haunted by the memory of her father, who abandoned her family when she was young. After her grandmother falls ill, Ose decides to return to her hometown to take care of her and hopefully find some answers to the questions that have been plaguing her for years.

Upon her arrival in the village, Ose discovers that her grandmother's cafe, the only one in town, has fallen into disrepair and is on the verge of closure. She also learns that her grandmother has been estranged from her best friend and business partner, Rose (Jenny Bonden), for many years, and that there is a deep-rooted conflict between the two women that has been simmering under the surface for decades.

As Ose sets out to revive her grandmother's cafe and repair her relationship with Rose, she confronts her own demons and begins to understand the importance of family, community, and tradition. Along the way, she meets a cast of colorful characters, including the feisty and opinionated Mama (Kate Adepegba), who becomes her confidant and voice of reason, and the kind-hearted and romantic Olu (Efa Iwara), who helps her with the daunting task of restoring the cafe to its former glory.

The Lost Cafe is a beautiful and emotionally resonant film that captures the essence of Nigerian village life and celebrates the power of love and forgiveness. The film is expertly directed by Gyang, who infuses every frame with a sense of poetry and depth that elevates the story beyond a simple tale of personal redemption. The cinematography by Yinka Edward is stunning, capturing the beauty and ruggedness of the Nigerian landscape with breathtaking precision.

The performances in the film are uniformly excellent, with Tunde Aladese delivering a standout turn as Ose, a complex and multi-layered character who undergoes a profound transformation over the course of the film. Aladese brings a quiet intensity and raw vulnerability to the role that makes her journey all the more poignant and relatable. Grace-Charis Bassey shines as young Agnes, bringing a sense of childlike wonder and innocence to the role that contrasts beautifully with the bitter and hardened Agnes we meet later in the film. Jenny Bonden is a revelation as Rose, imbuing her character with a quiet dignity and resilience that makes her eventual reconciliation with Agnes all the more satisfying.

In conclusion, The Lost Cafe is a must-see film for anyone who loves powerful and affecting stories about family, community, and the human spirit. It is a film that will make you laugh, cry, and think deeply about the things that truly matter in life. If you haven't seen it yet, do yourself a favor and seek it out - you won't be disappointed.

The Lost Cafe is a 2018 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 16 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.