5th February, 2013
After being premiered in New York, London, Johannesburg and Lagos, Doctor Bello, a movie produced and directed by Tony Abulu, is now showing in cinemas across the country.
Tunde MacAlabi, co-producer of the film said: “Doctor Bello has been a successful story; from New York to London, Johannesburg and back home in Lagos, people have continued to comment on the quality of work we’ve done. I hope you would find time to go watch the movie and see for yourself.”
Abulu, the first movie producer to receive a loan from NEXIM Bank, said it was time Nigerian filmmakers moved away from the era of churning out films on a daily basis and focus more on making movies that would stand the test of time, especially the production quality.
“I’m glad to announce that we have finally released the movie in cinemas, which means that Nigerians, who could not be at the Lagos premiere, can now go to any of the cinemas across the country and watch the movie,” he hinted.
Sponsored by NEXIM Bank, MTN Nigeria and Stanbic IBTC, the movie parades notable stars that include Isaiah Washington, Jimmy Jean Louis and Nigeria’s Genevieve Nnaji, Stephanie Okereke-Linus, Rachael Oniga and others.
The Lagos premiere, which opened with a special yellow carpet reception, attracted top Nollywood stars as well as guests from the corporate world. The story is weaved around America’s Isaiah Washington, who stars as Michael Durrant, a medical doctor, whose inquisition into the potency of African traditional medicine took him across the Atlantic to Oke-Idanre, Ondo State, Nigeria, in pursuit of the cure for cancer.
A brilliant cancer specialist, Durant is emotionally troubled, wrestling with the traumatic loss of his 10-year old daughter to cancer. Immersing himself in his work in the hospital, away from his wife, who blames him for their child’s death, he forms an unlikely bond with a sick, loving, but rambunctious seven-year old boy Sam, the son of a rich Jewish couple, who are major contributors to the hospital’s cancer research fund.
Unfortunately, Sam’s health deteriorates drastically, and soon, he slips into a coma, with only a few days to live. Dr. Durant becomes desperate, willing to risk anything to save the child’s life. A surreptitious Nigerian nurse convinces him to seek the help of Dr. Bello, an uncertified Nigerian Doctor.