'Scorned' Premier At National Theatre

Film producer and director, Shirley Frimpong-Manso certainly did not mince words when she revealed at the press screening of her latest movie Scorned recently that she loves to tackle the twists and turns of life when she settles to write.

Watching Scorned which was premiered last Saturday at the National Theatre bore testimony to her words. Apart from the few technical hitches the organisers had with sound and visuals before the showing, the film was exciting to watch.

Scorned is unlike most Ghanaian movies on the market where one can predict the end right from the very beginning or what will happen next before each scene ends.

The sequence of events in the movie is such that one would have to watch every minute of the unfolding story in order to understand and enjoy it.

The film is an embodiment of good actors, great dialogue that defines well the roles of the actors, good visuals and sound that makes viewing a pleasure, suspense and intrigue that keep one from not missing any second that passes by.

In Scorned, two years of marriage to Orlando Thompson( Chris Attoh), leaves his wife Dea Thompson( Lydia Forson) badly scarred. A case of self-defense leaves Orlando battling for his life in hospital and Dea an opportunity for a financially secure future.

Abused, suppressed, exploited and ill-treated, Dea is a woman on a mission who will stop at nothing to right all wrongs done her including getting what she thinks is rightfully hers.

Dea's eagerness to seek happiness and what she thinks should be her lot unveils other characters some of whom are hardly what they seem. They will do anything to ensure that she never gets a dime or the happiness she craves while she stops at nothing to right all wrongs done her.

The actors did well in developing their roles as the actions unfold and they need to be commended especially, Lydia Forson for clearly spelling out her role as Dea.

Efo Mawugbe who played Orlando's father a Reverend Minister mirrored some behaviour of some men of God who would go to any extent to get what they want even if it means going against the word of God.

Other members of the cast are Ecow Smith-Asante, veteran broadcaster, Robert Owusu, Dzifa Glikpoe, Kwami Sefa Kayi, Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku, Deconte Thompson, Soraya Mensah Kukubor, Sharon Azeev and Nana Kwame Osei Sarpong.

Although it is a good piece of work, a lot of the music is already-recorded stuff. For the high standards that Sparrow Productions has set for itself, it would be appropriate to commission original scores for future movies. The 'canned' music may be working now but music specifically formulated for work could work best.

Also, for an event such as this, one would have expected a large number of patrons and some prominent people in the Ghanaian film industry to be present. But no, even though the ground floor was filled, the lower and upper terraces were empty.

Some of the popular faces that were present were Kwaku Sintim Misa, Dzifa Gomashie, Fred Amugi, Brew Riverson Jnr. and Godwin Kotey.

Scorned is the second feature film written produced and directed by Shirley for her Sparrow Productions company. The first one, Life and Living It, came out last year.

Story by Gloria Dzifa Kpodo