Private Project

THAT OTHER SIDE

A ‘reformed’ hustler desperate to raise a specific amount of money returns to his hometown and finds himself trapped in a warehouse with his estranged best friend, a corpse, his pistol wielding girlfriend, a witch doctor and a bag full of money. How he got into this predicament is nowhere near as crazy as what he will have to do to get out of it…

  • Victor Sanchez Aghahowa
    Director
    Hotel Majestic, Dowry, Hush, Jemeji, Enakhe
  • Victor Sanchez Aghahowa
    Writer
    Letters to a Stranger, Hotel Majestic, Shuga, Dowry, Hush, Jemeji, Enakhe
  • 'Femi D Ogunsanwo
    Producer
    Ojukokoro, Knock Out Blessing, Finding Hubby
  • Ayodele Onyekachi Banjo
    Producer
  • Victor Sanchez Aghahowa
    Producer
    Dowry, Jemeji, Enakhe
  • Baaj Adebule
    Key Cast
    "Uyi"
    Hush, A Soldier's Story, Pay Day
  • Lota Chukwu
    Key Cast
    "Jasmine"
    Ajoche, Enakhe
  • Philip Asaya
    Key Cast
    "Azagba"
    Enakhe
  • Linda Ihuoma Ejiofor-Suleiman
    Key Cast
    "Ese"
    Tinsel, Chief Daddy, The Meeting
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Paranormal, Crime, Dramedy
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 13 minutes 8 seconds
  • Country of Origin:
    Nigeria
  • Country of Filming:
    Nigeria
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.39
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Victor Sanchez Aghahowa

Victor Sanchez Aghahowa (born December 27, 1982) is a Nigerian producer, screenwriter and director. He is best known as the showrunner, writer and director on the hit TV shows DOWRY, JEMEJI, HUSH and ENAKHE.

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Director Statement

Uyi, a ‘reformed’ hustler desperate to raise a specific amount of money returns to his hometown and finds himself trapped in a warehouse with his estranged best friend, a corpse, his pistol wielding girlfriend, a witch doctor and a bag full of money. And how he got into this predicament is nowhere near as crazy as what he will have to do to get out of it…

Minus the corpse and the witch doctor, the above could be autobiographical, because on shoot day one of this film –

Victor, a reformed ‘hustler’ desperate to finish his first film before he chickens out returns to his hometown and finds himself shooting in a warehouse with his best friends, a motivated crew, a cast who overly enjoyed playing with the prop pistol and a very finite amount of money. How he got into this predicament is nowhere near as crazy as what he will have to do to finish it…

I was born and raised in Benin City in Edo State, Nigeria, which is also the location of this story. I left home in 2001 to go chase the dream of film. I returned in 2020 as the showrunner of what would turn out to be a very successful TV show.

During the making of that show, a mix of nostalgia, gratitude and the full circle nature of things inspired me to take the next step in my career. After nearly 15 years making TV shows – it was time to make my first feature film.

I chose to direct this film because Uyi’s story at its core mirrors mine. Returning home changed and realizing you no longer fit in, even while you still remember how to carry yourself in situations you thought you would never face again.

I was inspired in making this by the work of Guy Ritchie, early Quentin Tarantino and Russell T Davies work on Doctor Who. Odd mix? I know.

Working with this cast was special because it is a collection of talented performers who have played lead characters in several different TV projects that I had showrun and directed over the last decade.

The crew was a mix of decade long collaborators and a new generation of local (to Benin City) filmmakers who gave more to this project than I can give them back.

That Other Side is a story as old as time, just presented in a contemporary way that connects cell phones to shrines, bags of money to malevolent spirits and loaded handguns to love triangles.

This is the story of a character trapped between his dark past and his bright future, but first having to navigate an overwhelming present – in which he could completely ruin that future by relapsing to methods from his past.

I can relate. I hope you can too, or enjoy watching him go on his journey as much as we had taking him on it…