Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman

2022

1h 36m

Drama

Adventure

History

List

80%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

81%

Audience Score

Fewer than 50 Ratings

After his king dies, a horseman must sacrifice himself to serve his ruler in the afterlife -- but sudden distractions lead to unexpected tragedy.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Netflix

Stream Now

Netflix

Watch Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman with a subscription on Netflix.

John Anderson

Wall Street Journal

In a film of grand acting, flamboyant color, vaulting ambition and global conflict, the more slippery gestures contain much meaning.

Nov 3, 2022

Full Review

Wendy Ide

Screen International

A bustling, vibrant fable which explores honour and duty, shame and the British tendency to stomp all over the cultural sensitivities of the places where they ‘rule’.

Sep 13, 2022

Full Review

Roger Moore

Movie Nation

One of the most celebrated works (a play) by Nigerian Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, it comes to the screen with all of its rhetorical power and a lot of its theatricality intact,

Rated: 2.5/4

Jan 19, 2023

Full Review

Barbara Shulgasser

Common Sense Media

The trouble with Elesin Oba: The King's Horseman is that its trajectory is clear from the start and lots of repetitive filler doesn't make that any less of a fatal flaw.

Rated: 2/5

Nov 9, 2022

Full Review

Andrew Kendall

Stabroek News

“The King’s Horseman” is carrying the weight of Soyinka’s legacy on its back, but this is confident and engaging work amidst the responsibility and Bandele is an expert director, especially of actors, directing Shaffy Bello to a note-perfect performance.

Sep 30, 2022

Full Review

Read all reviews

Benolu O

That has to be one of the best interpretations of a Wole Soyinka book. The actors were fab, the emotions raw, the culture top notch, I understand Yoruba and the script was so good, hopefully translated well enough in the sub titles for those who don't understand it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Babatunde L

After seeing the trailer, the discussion focused on whether we, as moviegoers and intellectuals, should be alarmed by the film's production. Yes, the concerns I had before writing the opinion piece came true. Elesin Oba is not the cerebral movie it portrays itself to be. Elesin Oba joins the list of films that have been adapted and end up stirring up controversy about them and their original works, with many people claiming that the original content is better. The Tragedy of Macbeth, a cinematic version of Shakespeare's Macbeth, was released in 2021 and is a good example of how a work can be modified and still perform as well as the original. Shakespeare's name conjures up academic lenses, much like Soyinka's, and if Coen (the director of The Tragedy of Macbeth) has achieved anything with the film's pure tone, it's finding a deliciously unsettling new vehicle for one of the writer's most enduring works. Here, Elesin Oba falls short: The movie alienated the film medium by remaining excessively faithful to its source material, resulting in a theatrical rendition of a film performance. The director was unable to convey the story visually by being unable to find his unique angle to it. Except for Shaffy Bello, the cast's performance doesn't particularly stand out. When compared to other movies up for Oscar nominations like King of Thieves: Ageshinkole, Agenshikole may have a much worse plot, but its cast performances are the movie's redeeming grace. The plot of Elesin Oba is presented in a terrible way, and when combined with a weak group of performers, the movie is permanently damaged. Excellent performances are given up by Elesin Oba in favour of poetic dialogue. The characters in the movie minimize the catastrophe that is destined to befall the town as a result of Elesin's failure to carry out his rite and the absence of what Soyinka refers to as the Ogunian will. Eleshin's failure has a ripple effect on the community as a whole, according to Soyinka and even some statements in the movie, but the community doesn't even seem to understand this, and the entire transition process doesn't just feel like filler in the movie; it doesn't seem to have any psychological impact on the people. The colour grading adds the final nail to the coffin. While I don't support throwing out the baby with the bathwater, Elesin Oba's colour betrays everything about the look of a period piece. Elesin Oba is not the deep film it pretends to be. It is an empty calabash wrapped in a peacock aesthetic; beautiful on the surface, but that doesn't take away the hollowness.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

12/17/22

Full Review

Vicky S

The film makes use of dialogue, idioms, proverbs while putting it concept out. Also, use of cultural activities, and language difference makes it live up to the fact that it was actually a true life story. I think the film adaptation does a better job than the stage play does for itself. Too bad the direction isn't alive to take credit for his work.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/18/22

Full Review

Charles V

This is one of the best movies I have watched in a long time. All I ask is you come into it with an open mind. Leave your prejudice and prejudgment by the wayside. This is an insight into the ancient Yoruba culture, a journey into the importance of honor and duty. The integral role music and celebration plays in African culture, and the beating pulse of tradition which keeps these cultures alive. Elesin Oba is a tribute to African storytelling and a joy to watch.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/12/22

Full Review

ISHENLA N

Elesin Oba was awesome! Their performance was spectacular from beginning to end. This is a must see for everyone.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/08/22

Full Review

Fierce S

The movie was phenomenal! The fact that it is a real life story makes it even more enthralling. The characters and acting was absolutely amazing. Great Job.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/07/22

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Biyi Bandele

Director

Odunlade Adekola

Elesin

Shaffy Bello

Iyaloja

Deyemi Okanlawon

Olunde

Mark Elderkin

Actor

Jenny Stead

Actor

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

100%

%

City of Wind

40%

%

Naane Varuven

40%

56%

Godspeed

83%

96%

His Only Son

91%

38%

The Integrity of Joseph Chambers

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

After his king dies, a horseman must sacrifice himself to serve his ruler in the afterlife -- but sudden distractions lead to unexpected tragedy.

Director: Biyi Bandele
Producer: Mo Abudu
Screenwriter: Biyi Bandele
Production Co: Ebonylife Films, EbonyLife Studios
Genre: Drama, Adventure, History
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 4, 2022
Runtime: 1h 36m

Most Popular at Home Now