With Difficulty Comes Ease is a true cinematic piece that breaks out of the usual redundant storytelling of most Nollywood films.
By Joseph Jonathan
Nigerian director, Korede Azeez might just be Nollywood’s most hard-working filmmaker. Having burst onto the scene in 2022 when she became one of the six finalists of the UNESCO-Netflix competition and her short film, Halima’s Choice, was released as part of the African Folktales Reimagined anthology later in 2023, she has gone on to release two feature films this year, the first being It Blooms in June and, more recently, With Difficulty Comes Ease.
Written by Azeez, With Difficulty Comes Ease is a heartfelt and thought-provoking narrative that follows the story of Zainab (Uzoamaka Aniunoh), a young Igbo-Hausa widow who finds herself entangled in a complex web of grief, cultural expectations, and personal struggle. After the sudden and devastating loss of her husband, Zainab is forced to painfully readjust to a new reality, as she embarks on the mandatory mourning period (Iddah) dictated by her Muslim family’s traditions.
As she navigates this tumultuous period, Zainab must contend with the suffocating presence of her cranky mother-in-law, Hajiya (Ummi Baba-Ahmed), and a potential new love, Rayyan (Caleb Richards), with whom she forms a complicated but deepening friendship.
While the plot in itself is simple, it is the delicate and tactful manner in which each theme is explored that makes it truly beautiful. As a film which belongs to the ‘slice of life’ genre: films that offer a realistic and nuanced portrayal of everyday life, With Difficulty Comes Ease captures Zainab’s difficulty with admirable ease.
The storytelling focuses on introspection as it draws you into the characters’ lives, such that each character feels like someone you’ve crossed paths with. This subtle approach allows for a profound connection with the characters, making their struggles and triumphs deeply relatable and authentic.
Nigerian cinema has consistently explored the theme of widowhood since the 1990s, with 1998 classics like Evil Men and Yesterday paving the way. This trend has continued in the 2000s with films like Women’s Cot (2005), The Widow (2005), and A Mother’s Fight (2013). These films offer a poignant and realistic portrayal of the lives of widows, exploring themes such as love, loss, loneliness, grief, survival, stigma, and resilience.
With Difficulty Comes Ease also explores similar themes but what sets it apart from its predecessors is its refreshing departure from the common trope of portraying widows as helpless. Instead, it offers a more empowering and nuanced representation of women navigating widowhood.
Unlike the typical portrayal of widows in previous films, who are often left vulnerable and dependent on their in-laws, Zainab defies convention by taking charge of her late husband’s fabric business. Despite warnings from her family and the business’ struggling state, she courageously perseveres, determined to build something for herself.
Notably, Zainab’s actions are motivated by her husband’s refusal to let her work during his lifetime and her desire to preserve his legacy, highlighting a pervasive issue in society where men often deprive their wives of financial independence, whether due to love, dominance, or control.
This phenomenon poses a significant obstacle to women’s empowerment, particularly in cases where women lose their husbands and are left with no means of supporting themselves. By taking control of the business, Zainab challenges this narrative, reclaiming her agency and paving the way for a more secure and independent future.
The film’s nuanced portrayal of loss and grief extends beyond Zainab’s personal loss, as some of the other characters navigate their own journeys of pain and resilience. For Rayyan, he struggles with the pain of losing his family as a result of his decision to convert to Islam. Zainab and her mother-in-law, in particular, stand out as strong women united by their shared loss, yet diverging in their individual coping mechanisms. The film’s unique strength lies in its unassuming honesty, tackling grief with a subtle yet profound approach that eschews melodrama for a more introspective tone.
As far as acting performances go, With Difficulty Comes Ease boasts credible performances that accentuate the story even more. Aniunoh delivers a standout performance as Zainab, bringing a haunting vulnerability to the role, her eyes conveying a profound sense of loss and emptiness that is both heart-wrenching and deeply compelling.
Aniunoh aptly captures the numbness and desperation that can accompany bereavement, imbuing Zainab with a sense of authenticity that makes her journey feel deeply relatable and emotionally resonant. Richards is adequate as Rayyan, as the script doesn’t demand much complexity from his character. Baba-Ahmed, on the other hand, shines as Hajiya, drawing upon her experience in playing similar roles to bring depth and nuance to the character.
Inspired by a verse in the Quran, the film’s title suggests a didactic approach, but while With Difficulty Comes Ease is indeed a perceptive and impactful exploration of widowhood, marriage, and Islamophobia, it skillfully avoids being preachy or judgmental. Instead, the film tackles its complex themes with sensitivity, nuance, and care, offering a poignant yet compassionate examination of the human experience. By balancing its message with empathy and understanding, the film creates a powerful and moving narrative.
With Difficulty Comes Ease is a true cinematic piece that breaks out of the usual redundant storytelling of most Nollywood films. It is a film that feels like a cozy blanket on a cold day and while it is titled With Difficulty Comes Ease, the key lesson for Nollywood is that with nuanced storytelling comes a good film that everyone would appreciate.
Rating: 3/5
Joseph Jonathan is a historian who seeks to understand how film shapes our cultural identity as a people. He believes that history is more about the future than the past. When he’s not writing about film, you can catch him listening to music or discussing politics. He tweets @JosieJp3.