SOURCE:

Faculty: Arts
Department: Theatre And Film Studies

CONTRIBUTORS:

Agube, I. P.
Nwosu, C. C.
Obadiegwu, C. C.

ABSTRACT:

Loss of individual, societal and national memory is threat to understanding the past, present and projecting into the future because it can lead to total stifling and erosion of individual or societal memory. However, apart from their artistic functions, montage techniques have potentials to engender memory and recollection in films. The problem of this study is therefore the negation and underutilization of montage techniques in Nollywood films. Hence, the study aims at analyzing functions of montage technique in Nollywood films to ascertain its potentials to engender memory and recollection among individuals and communities. Objectives of the study include: to foreground the recollection of our past experiences through montage techniques in films with regard to evaluating how they affect understanding of the past, present and projection into the future. To also evaluate the use of montage techniques in Nollywood films and appraise their potentials as instruments for memory and recollection. Furthermore, to assess how montage technique can improve quality of Nollywood films and expand its viewership using Cry of the Motherless Child, The Prince and the Slave, When the King Dies, The King and the Sword, Figurine and October 1. The research is hinged on a combined theoretical premise of montage and recollection theories of Sergei Eisenstein and Ria Banerjee that framed data analysis. Mixed method of research that combined quantitative and qualitative approaches of simple random sampling and percentage analysis approaches, personal observation, case study, content analysis and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was adopted. The study proved that apart from its artistic functions, montage techniques engendered memory and recollection among the audience and actors. The study revealed that quality and functions of Nollywood films can improve with full utilization, understanding and adoption of sophisticated montage techniques by Nollywood filmmakers. Thus, criticisms of Nollywood films in terms of quality stems partially from the negation, underutilization and poor application of montage technique as instrument for communication, recollection and indeed; this led to loss of montage cinematic effects on the audience and the outcome is unnecessary long, weak and boring narratives in Nollywood films. The study concluded that montage filmmaking technique can engender memory and recollection for recollecting the past and understanding the present and the future; if properly used, it can improve the quality of Nollywood films and expand its viewership.