In 1976, Nigerian army officers staged a would-be coup that succeeded in killing the country's 37-year-old leader, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, but failed to topple his government. It is against the dramatic events of the time that director Izu Ojukwu's taut "Nollywood" drama unfolds. Army captain Joseph Dewa (Ramsey Nouah, excellent) and his wife Suzy (Rita Dominic) are expecting the imminent arrival of their first child. Understandably focused on family matters, he is deeply ambivalent about the plotting of his fellow officers: he refuses to support the coup attempt, but he also pledges to remain neutral. When the coup fails, he comes under suspicion. What ensues will test the bonds of the couple's marriage and possibly end in tragedy...

"Ojukwu's politically charged love story... hits the target... Nouah gives a rock-solid lead performance, radiating calm authority and moral unease without a flicker of histrionics. The period-perfect nods to Afrocentric fashion, music and hair are great fun... A crash course in Nigerian cinema for international viewers, '76 is a worthy effort, striking a healthy balance between educating and entertaining." Stephen Dalton, The Hollywood Reporter

Izu Ojukwu – Director (January 9 & 12 only)