“Breaking Barriers in Lionheart: A Critical Review Through Four Lenses”

 Lion heart is a Nigerian movie directed by Genevieve Nnaji in 2018.

The movie portrayed how Chief  Ernest Obiagu where he owned a transport company named “ Lion Heart “.

The man built the company on the foundations values and morals surrounding the family.

The business later had a down town has it was facing financial struggles, when they owned the bank a huge amount of money but it was up to Ada Eze and her uncle Godswill Obiagu to find a solution that would save the “lions heart”.

These lens that would use to analyze and evaluate how the movie turns out and how different types of people are involved in “ Lion Heart” 

Section A : Oppositional gaze: 

It’s a concept of how a black woman is the protagonist of the movie , where the  lead character, Adaeze Obiagu (Genevieve Nnaji), is a Black Nigerian woman who is shown as strong, intelligent, and capable. 

The movie talks about how she has a position of authority of respect, leading her father’s company under pressure.

Adaeze’s story shows how she lead the action.

Though her father has a big role the movie talks about how she takes her decision herself and faces her challenges on her own.

It’s a direct rejection of male gaze, where she takes her action, being seen on her own terms, and challenging patriarchal systems.

Ada was underestimated as a woman even when her father chose her and her uncle Godswill to ,  as the MD instead of her, it reflects real-world gender bias. But Ada didn’t break down and  didn’t get behaved aggressively but she proved herself as an intelligent , strong , professionalism and persistence woman.

This quiet resistance, combined with her success in saving the company, shows how Black women resist and push back against the roles that society expects them to play. That is the heart of the oppositional gaze.

Section B Male Gaze 

In most films shaped by the male gaze, women are dressed or filmed in ways that highlight their physical features for male pleasure.

Adaeze wore modest, professional outfits during the movie.

She always her point of view to dominate the narrative of herself.

 Section c Former media analysis.

Cinematography 

It’s talking about how many shots where taken and close ups that would help us to connect emotionally with the characters, especially Adaeze.

• The film avoids flashy or dramatic camera angles. Instead, it focuses on realistic visuals, showing the beauty of Nigerian cities like Enugu and Kano.
  
  

Natural lighting helps to increase realism, with beautiful outdoor scenes that reflect Nigerian cities like Enugu and Kano.

The wide shots are to show the company’s office, the streets and the market areas .

Mise en Scène

 (Everything within the frame—costumes, props, set design, etc.)

Costumes: Adaeze wore a smart corporate dresses , modest and professional, which shows her ambition and confidence in it. 

Her uncle wore more of traditional clothes like senators and Ankara that reflects his laid back attitude.

• Settings: The Lionheart company office, family home, and public places are styled to feel authentic and relatable to a Nigerian audience.
  Settings: The Lionheart company office, family home, and public places are styled to feel authentic and relatable to a Nigerian audience.
  
  
• Props: Office files, local buses, phones, and traditional furniture all serve to reinforce the realism and Nigerian identity of the film.
  
  
• Cultural identity is also shown through food, language, and environment.

Sound Design 

The sound design combines both natural dialogue and local ambient sounds, and a soft musical sound that supports the mood of the movie. 

• There is a mix of English and Igbo (with a bit of Hausa when they go to Kano), which reflects Nigeria’s multilingual society.
  
  

    There are emotional scenes often like gentle and reflective music while tense business scenes use quieter or more suspenseful tones.

Editing 

The movie follows a step by step structure through the company’s crisis and Adaeze’s journey.

• Some scene like the trip to Kano are edited to show change of environment, helping viewers understand the shift in setting and tone.
  
  

Performance 

Genevieve Nnaji ( Ada eze) gave a quiet but powerful performance, portraying performance, smart, calm and determined woman who was trying to prove herself.

• Pete Edochie (Chief Obiagu)
   brings a sense of authority and wisdom Even in sickness, his presence is strong and commanding.
  
  
• Nkem Owoh (Uncle Godswill) adds humor and lightness but also shows growth as he becomes more responsible.
  
  
• The supporting cast delivers natural, believable performances that reflect the real-life challenges of Nigerian working-class and elite families.
  
  

Narrative Structure 

The story structure goes like this 

Setup 

Conflict 

Struggle

Resolution 

• Setup: The father’s illness and Adaeze being passed over as acting MD.
  
  
• Conflict: The company is in debt, and outside forces want to buy it.
  
  
• Struggle: Adaeze and Godswill work together to find solutions.
  
  
• Resolution: They form a smart merger, save the company, and earn respect.
  
  
• The narrative focuses more on personal growth and leadership than on action or romance, which is refreshing in Nollywood storytelling.
  
  

 Section D Marxist Lens 

The Marxist lens shows the class struggle, economic power and material conditions, capitalism.

• The story revolves around Lionheart Transport, a family-owned business. The Obiagu family represents Nigeria’s upper-middle class, educated, respected, and relatively wealthy.
  
  
• However, we also see ordinary workers drivers, office staff, and vendors who depend on the company for their survival.
  
   This reflects a clear economic hierarchy: those who own the business have more power than those who work for it.
  
  
• The film does not directly explore the workers’ struggles, but their presence reminds us of how business decisions (like a buyout or shutdown) would impact lower-class workers the most.
  
  
• A major Marxist element in the movie is the conflict between the IG motors , a powerful company that wanted to buy the company “ lion heart “.
• Adaeze’s fight to keep Lionheart independent is a fight against economic domination she refuses to let their family legacy be destroyed by a richer, more powerful corporation.
  
  
• Ada is capable , her father still chose her uncle to lead the company. This reflects to patriarchy and capitalism intersects to limit opportunities for women in leadership.
• Although Ada is elite , she still faces systemic discrimination, showing that class power is not equally distributed even within the elite.
• The partnership between Lionheart and Alhaji Maikano from Kano is a class-based alliance between two regional elites (Southeast and North).
  
  
• It reflects how economic power can cross ethnic and cultural lines, especially when interests align.
  
  
• This partnership also suggests that unity among business owners is necessary to survive against larger capitalist threats.
  

Conclusion 

In conclusion, Lionheart is more than just a story about saving a transport company — it’s a powerful representation of gender, class, culture, and resistance in Nigerian society. Through the lens of formal media analysis, the film uses simple but effective elements like cinematography, sound, editing, and strong performances to tell a meaningful story. By applying the oppositional gaze, we see how Adaeze challenges traditional gender roles and represents Black women with strength and dignity. The male gaze is rejected entirely, as the female lead is not objectified but instead shown as capable, smart, and in control. The Marxist lens reveals deeper themes of class struggle, capitalism, and power—highlighting the pressure small family businesses face in a competitive economy.

Overall, Genevieve Nnaji’s Lionheart is a bold and refreshing Nollywood film that empowers women, critiques social systems, and tells a culturally rich story in a modern and relatable way. It proves that African stories can be both local and global, simple yet powerful.