Liberia Launches Record-Breaking Int'l Movie ('Hatred' I&II)

For a country still reeling from the hangover of brutal conflict that left various tribes divided to the heights of different magnitude, meaningful movies can be an invaluable component of national reconciliation and healing. That's exactly what the producers of the ground-breaking movie “Hatred” set out to achieve.

The prime goal of the film is to forcefully drive home the message of ethnic-clannish reconciliation in an irresistible entertainment fashion that makes it a Must-See! 'Hatred' is a profoundly cast human drama on a grand scale; Made in Liberia, yet elevated far above footage poorness and designed to portray the magnificence of superb domestic glamour.

The story line is simple:
In ancient Liberia, the King of a traditional Kingdom situated somewhere along the forest belt of Nimba has just died. Custom dictates his first born son (Prince Dahn, Mulbah Morlu) is immediately crowned as heir of the throne. But an equally challenging traditional custom stands tall in the way as an obstacle; he is a single Prince who must first get married to a deserving daughter of the kingdom or beyond.

Newsbreak of the King's demise and a launched search for the young Prince' bride shreds the kingdom into competing envy that was to determine its peace or anarchy. The simplicity of the Prince inspired the weak and weary to speculate that one of them would certainly be the chosen one. His royalty and political power did not help either as elegant and wealthy maidens (like Oge Okoye, Nigeria) attempt to lay claims to the soon-to-be King. With this hullabaloo, the Nimba kingdom shares its own challenges of 'Hatred, envy and deep-seated family division.

Meanwhile, a rival Kingdom, of the Krahn forest belt, has been finding ways to seeking ethnic reconciliation with their Gio/Mano counterparts. Unknown to them, Prince Dahn intends to depart from his father's policy of war and civil aggression against rival kingdoms and chiefdoms. To the contrary, remnants of his father's elders expect a continuation of the late King's policy. Would Prince Dahn oblige?

In the end, with intents to choose a bride out of real love, and out of a desire to unite the two kingdoms, Prince Dahn (of the Gio/Mano tribes) decides to take a wife from the Krahn Kindgom. The Krahn Kindgom appears happy and wants to present one of the daughters of King Wulu (Aloysius Taylor). While the eldest daughter presents herself, Prince Dahn appear unmoved and disguises into different faces at various intervals, appearing to the contesting maidens as a form of test of true love. In the end, Prince Dahn builds his every action on a policy to unite the tribes. Will he succeed or some elders are too cunning to be trusted?

The movie 'Hatred' is an ancient epic film that teaches lessons for postwar Liberia.

Background
The project was shot and filmed 100% on Liberian soil, spanning over a two year period to start and complete, utilizing the rareness of the lavish countryside, beautiful landscape and great cultural heritage. “Hatred” reminisces classic Liberian traditions practiced of old, but now left buried under the ruining practice of foreign culture. It's a mirror through which the traditional method of reconciliation and unbeatable entertainment is brought to light to give meaning to a history lost through the ages of conflict and neglect.

The Director/Producer was skillful in recreating and maintaining the richness of ancient traditional values while spicing the finished product in extraordinary visual masterpiece. The hostility synthetically exists between two rival kingdoms; the self-styled Krahn Kingdom of Grand Gedeh, and the Flamboyant Gio/Mano Kingdom of Nimba, the hometown of young Prince Dahn whose father's death created a vacuum of opportunity that could only be filled by a MARRIED Prince. The plots, schemes and maneuvers to win the hearts of powerbrokers set the stage for the intensification of clannish “HATRED” that was to threaten the stability of a family and two kingdoms, a tragedy that headed for chaos. Would intermarriage between the rival kingdoms prevent the doom?

“Hatred” depicts ancient Liberia, a classic chronological setting of intrigues, unraveling performances by some of the best characters in African movie-making. The entire episode is a wardrobe of elegant costuming, exotic locales, dazzling spectacle, lavish decor and a sweeping visual style.

This huge album of precious quality would amount to nothingness without the professional delivering ability of a carefully selected cast. The Director again worked out a marvelous combination where every cast, every value, and every quality counts. To elevate the standard to conventional proportions, and ensure the right combination, Nigeria's superstar & UN Peace Ambassador, Oge Okoye was cast alongside Ghanaian counterpart, Ruffy Samuel. The explosive combination of the two had so much lasting effect on the rest of the domestic crew.

To play Prince Dahn, a public figure whose casting would have a lasting impact on National Reconciliation was desired. Over twenty-five public figures were auditioned, with Mulbah Morlu, an outstanding campaigner for justice, selected. The Directing maestro of Director Courage 'The Rock' Borbor transformed amateurs into professionals as they displayed rare talents before the camera. Experienced actors, Josephine Blamo and Aloysius Taylor (King Wulu) were topmost rising stars fulfilling roles no one could have done better.

In its entirety, “Hatred”, which is already widely rated as Liberia's first international Movie, is also the first Liberian film to cost over a staggering US$50,000 dollars, excluding miscellaneous expenditure! Thanks to Mr. Macdonald A. Wento, Executive Producer and his prestigious Millennium Holdings, Inc.

All is now set for the grand Premiere of a movie promising Liberia's ascend on the global map of distinguished filmmaking and help bridge the gap between tribes and counties. The Box office approach will for the first time be employed in the marketing of the project with Corporate Premiere slated for September 1, 2012 at the Golden Gate Hotel, and the Rivoli Cinema respectively on 6 & 7 September where both Part I & II will be screened.

Truly, it's Liberia's time to show classic and professional filmmaking; “Hatred” is the Ground-Breaker, in Epic Entertainment and Ethnic Reconciliation to ever come out of LIB. Above all, “Hatred” is a thrilling search for National Reconciliation and Peace.

'Hatred” is truly a Must-See; you can't miss it! Ticket sales to be announced soon…

3. A PROFESSIONAL & SOPHISTICATED CREW