Movie- 'The Return to Batibo' Launched

Film lovers have acclaimed the release last week of the movie "The Return to Batibo" Part I and II. Produced by Alenne Too Strong (ATS) Production, the movie focuses on the lifestyle of Cameroonians living abroad, commonly called 'bush fallers', when they visit Cameroon. In order to impress the local population, they bring along flashy items like clothes, shoes, accessories and cars. Usually, girls are the first to fall prey to their caprices, because of their love for material things.

The movie shows that some Cameroonians in the diaspora are not always who they claim to be. The main actor, Werechan, visiting his homeland Batibo, claims to be an international consultant. He boasts of his relationship with "President Nelson Mandela of Netherlands", the "Queen of London", and even his personal friend Paul, the president of the Republic.

In "The Return to Batibo," Werechan returns home after spending 17 years overseas. He tells his people that after serving the world with his expertise, he has decided to come and share his fortunes with them. He changes the dressing, walking and talking pattern of the villagers, including the Chief. Claiming that his ship filled with Dollars, Euros and Pounds is still at sea, he causes the Chief and elders to pass a law for each household to contribute FCFA 1,500 for his upkeep. He also urges villagers to pay the sum of FCFA 500.000 each, for him to send them to European countries and the United States of America.

However, Werechan's doom comes on the day he is caught red-handed in bed with the Fon's wife. He is then compelled to confess that he has never been abroad, but was somewhere in the country. When life became difficult for him, he decided to return home. Other themes highlighted in the movie include acculturation, vengeance, gossip, corruption, among others.