Kasule Douglas Benda
You know that feeling when you sit down to watch a drama that’s almost 2 hours long, and you just hope it’s strong enough to keep you away from your phone, WhatsApp notifications, or even that sudden urge to get a drink? That was me yesterday when I watched ‘1 NIGHT STAND’ by Ben Lexus (Lexo Expressions). And honestly, there was a lot to take in but I will allow you all to watch the film yourselves.
The film came out in 2020 and had some really promising young talent. Names like Nantege Shana Nancy, Nankya Whitney, and Nakatya Daisy really stood out. Back then, I thought, “Yes! We’ve got future stars here.” But now, five years later, I can’t say I know where most of them are in their acting journeys. And that’s a big problem for our industry, why can’t we keep good actors long enough to turn them into household names? I could make a long list of naturally gifted actors (not the wannabe lot we have today) who started strong but faded out because, let’s face it, acting in Uganda isn’t the most sustainable career path.
So, what’s the film about?
1 NIGHT STAND is about unemployment and how it pushes young people into survival mode. We see a naïve village girl living with her aunt. They’re desperate for a better future, so when a man promises her a job abroad, they scrape together money, only to get conned. Dream crushed. With no options left, she ends up in Kampala’s suburbs, and her life takes a hard turn into prostitution. From there, we follow her and her friends hustling the nightlife, finding men, taking risks, sometimes drugging and robbing clients just to survive.
It’s gritty, messy, and honestly very real.
About the acting
Now, let me say this, the roles weren’t easy. Some of the scenes demanded actions that many actresses would hesitate to perform on camera. Yet the girls gave it a go, and that alone deserves a thumbs up. I won’t mention what the actions were but you can watch the film to know.
My take on the script
Here’s where I felt the film stumbled a bit: the pacing. The start was slow, and I found myself wishing they had shuffled the storyline around. Instead of going straight A-B-C, it could have been way more engaging if it jumped around a bit—say, C-A-B-C. That way, the tension builds differently, and viewers stay hooked. Because in this age of distractions, you need to grip us from the word go.
Despite its rough edges, 1 NIGHT STAND is a bold film. Lexo and his team took on a tough subject and told it through characters we don’t often see spotlighted. It may not be perfect, but it sparks important conversations about survival, youth, and the choices desperation forces people to make.
Want to see it for yourself? It’s up on Stream East for just Ush 1,000. Here’s the link: Watch 1 NIGHT STAND.
#MakingUgFilmsFamous
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