Movie Review: “EVOR” – A Bold Debut That Sheds Light on Domestic Abuse.

“EVOR” marks a significant debut for actress Sitsofe Tsikor and her Rainbow Productions studio, bringing forth a story that resonates with depth and emotional intensity. 

The actress, now producer’s choice to tell this story as her first-self produced feature film adds a layer of personal investment, suggesting that the narrative may be deeply rooted in her own experiences or observations of real-life events.

“EVOR” explores the tragic tale of Dela (played by Sitosfe Tsikor), who unintentionally takes her partner Kojo’s life while defending herself during an abusive encounter. Facing a potential 20-year prison sentence, Dela’s story delves into the years of physical, emotional, and psychological abuse she endured for years from the person who was supposed to love her. 

The film begins with police detective Crabbe, portrayed by Adjetey Anang, examining a crime scene strewn with shattered glass and blood. Initially setting a tone reminiscent of a crime thriller but quickly evolves into a nuanced exploration of domestic abuse. 

Then we are introduced to Dela, battered and bruised, confined to a hospital bed and restrained. This portrayal suggests her involvement in a crime potentially resulting in loss of life. Subsequently, the narrative unfolds, revealing the events that led to this dire situation.

Through Sitosfe Tsikor’s performance, we witness Dela‘s vulnerability and naivety as she navigates a toxic relationship with Kojo, a character convincingly played by Brian Angels. He provides the ideal canvas for the character Kojo, exuding an unassuming demeanour that suits the role. Brian adeptly transitions from a likeable individual to a violent, manipulative, and vindictive abuser with remarkable ease. His portrayal is so convincing that viewers may find themselves despising him by the film’s conclusion.

The chemistry between Sitsofe and Brian is palpable, effectively portraying the complexities of their tumultuous relationship.

“EVOR” employs a narrative style that interweaves court scenes, investigative interviews, and chronological events, allowing viewers to piece together the story gradually. 

The film delves into the reasons why individuals may stay in abusive relationships, highlighting societal influences, personal attachments, and the manipulation tactics of abusers.

In Dela‘s situation, it appears to be a combination of several factors. While external and personal influences shape her decisions, her profound love and admiration for Kojo stand out prominently. Despite their tumultuous relationship, Kojo consistently finds ways to salvage things just as Dela contemplates leaving.

The supporting characters, such as Maa Baby (played by Dorothy Konadu) and Dela‘s mother (played by Myna Otoo), provide additional layers to the narrative, showcasing the role of family and society in either enabling or supporting victims of abuse. Religion and faith are also examined as potential factors in addressing such issues.

As a debut production, “EVOR” is a bold endeavour, tackling serious subject matter while maintaining an entertaining and balanced approach. The film avoids glorifying violence and abuse, opting for a more restrained portrayal that effectively conveys the abuse on Dela without resorting to excessive graphic content that may in some way glorify abuse for people with sadistic tendencies.

While “EVOR” demonstrates technical proficiency in areas such as makeup, costuming, and location choices, there are some noticeable flaws, particularly in court set design. It’s disappointing to observe that, at this stage in the development of our film industry, we still encounter court sets that lack convincing or complementary elements. It is only pardonable because this is a film that most likely was made on a tight budget.

There are also a few scenes with harsh lighting that don’t appear natural enough, although the choice of colour grading does a decent job of attempting to mitigate these issues.

Despite these shortcomings, the overall acting and delivery are commendable, with minor slips that do not detract from the overall quality of the film.     

The film also makes use of a decent sound score that succeeds at immersing you in the suspenseful narrative, eliciting emotions of fear, empathy, and anger from the audience as the film progresses.

“EVOR” may not offer all the answers to the complex issue of domestic abuse. It doesn’t even attempt to provide any solutions. It is honest about the struggles of victims like Dela, and how society contributes to this issue through silence and a lack of empathy. The film simply ignites an important conversation and underscores the collective responsibility to support and protect victims.

Its themes and message are straightforward and unequivocal and we all have a role to play in ensuring that individuals who unfortunately find themselves in such relationships are heard when they speak up, protected, and assisted. 

I will score this film 6.8/10. As a debut feature, it tackles a serious subject matter and it should be treated as a serious project that attempts to cause some form of social change.

Sitsofe Tsikor‘s directorial debut is a noteworthy contribution to the cinematic landscape, showcasing her talent and dedication to telling impactful stories.