Derin Vs Life is an intriguing two-part family/romantic drama centred on Derin, a single mother navigating a complicated co-parenting relationship with Rogba, the father of her son, Prince. Rogba comes across as irresponsible in many aspects of his life, but certainly not towards his son. Yet Derin struggles to trust him — perhaps made even more complicated by the lingering suggestion that she may still have feelings for him.
Then there is Gbenga, the seemingly responsible and dependable man now in Derin’s life, who has comfortably assumed a fatherly role towards Prince and eventually proposes marriage. But here is where the premise becomes even more interesting: Gbenga has a child of his own and is confronted with similar co-parenting tensions involving his baby mother. Suddenly, Derin isn’t simply dealing with the baggage of her own previous relationship; she is also having to navigate someone else’s.
Irewole Olaniyan, Gabriel Afolayan and Tunde Aderinaoye share great chemistry, which helps them embody their roles and navigate the complexities of co-parenting, lingering emotions and new relationships. Young Molawa Onajobi, who plays Prince, is equally difficult to overlook, showing genuine potential in his portrayal of a child caught in the middle of his parents’ complicated relationship. Yet this is another area where the absence of a well-treated screenplay becomes evident: Prince’s presence offers an opportunity to explore how the tensions between his parents affect the child emotionally, but the story barely scratches the surface. It is nevertheless this human dynamic that keeps the movie directed by Mo' Fakorede engaging despite its shortcomings.
Unfortunately, the production doesn’t quite match the strength of its premise, leaving some of its dramatic choices difficult to digest. At times, it feels as though the film was acted straight from a first draft rather than a properly treated screenplay. The dialogue, rendered in both Yoruba and English, is a particular example: several heated exchanges between Derin and Rogba include repeated use of the F-word and other abusive language — sometimes right in front of young Prince — without enough dramatic justification or sensitivity to the situation.
And that is perhaps the frustrating thing about Derin Vs Life: beneath the not-too-good production and underdeveloped screenplay is a potentially very good relationship drama. The story has something interesting to say about modern relationships, blended families and the contradictions of co-parenting. It simply needed more treatment before the cameras started rolling.
- Jimi D Baldheaded Guy