Okay so before I talk about this particular movie, I would strongly advise you to get a roll of tissue paper or handkerchief close to you, because if you are like me who is so emotional, then the tears would roll out uncontrollably.

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The movie 'Strained' featured actors like Sam Nnabuike who played the character of Ozo, Queen Nwokoye ( Mrs Abigail Udoh), Tracy George who played the character; Ebere and Padita Agu who played the character; Maria. The movie storyline centers on a mother-daughter unhealthy relationship, the grudge, the feeling of abandonment, and being unloved.

If you have watched some movies that featured Queen Nwokoye, you would agree with me that she is usually funny yet strong-willed, she never succumbed to intimidation and she is full of life. You can't be bored watching her on screen.

So for thirteen years, Ebere had not shared the same roof with her mother, she got married without inviting her mum to the wedding, and it was obvious she didn't have a good relationship with her mother. Now the time came for her to give birth to her first baby, unlike the usual screams and panting associated with labor pain, Ebere was calm and even smiling when her water broke. Wait, how is it even possible to be calm during labor, or is it peculiar to some people or persons? Hmm, I guess it's food for thought.

Parenting responsibilities set in and as young couples, they are faced with sleeplessness due to the incessant cries of the baby at night time. Ozo would have to make a quick Journey and suggested that Ebere's mother come visit to help with taking care and handling the baby when he is away. Ebere shows resistance because she was hurt by her mother's decision years ago.

Ebere's mother was in an abusive and toxic marriage, she was constantly and physically assaulted by her husband; Ebere's father, and when her life was threatened she walked away from the marriage leaving behind her daughter; Ebere.
Ebere felt unloved, exposed to a toxic home, and abandoned, and she grew an intense hatred for her mother when she left her. She caught ties with her mother and for the same reason never wanted her mum to be a part of her life.

Sometimes, just like Ebere, you find a good number of people who do not have a healthy relationship with their parents; either the father, mother, or both. Truthfully, sometimes our parents make certain decisions that may not go down well with us as children but when you look inwardly, they may have the right intentions. So before you go ahead to hate your parents or cut off ties with them, please check their intentions for you.

It is every mother's dream to see that her child is happy in life especially when it comes to settling down with a partner who is worthy of love, support, responsible, and worthy of emulation. A mother may not be perfect but be assured of her love, her love is irreplaceable, likewise a child; who always desires and is dependent on being loved, cared for, protected, and provided for.

Two scenes made me cry like a baby in the movie, the tears trickled down my cheeks, the first is when Ebere's mother; Mrs. Abigail was praying and blessing her grandchild, every child is usually a blessing from God to society and the prayers and blessings of our parents are as important as the air we breathe to live. It is so sad to see that some of us attract our parents' curses and wrath instead of a blessing when we try to prove that we are mature and rebellious against them.

The second scene was when Ebere was angry with her mother when she gave the baby palm oil because of difficulty in digestion and Ebere and her husband had to rush the baby to the hospital to avoid complications, as a mother who felt she wasn't doing well with her daughter and grandchild, Mrs Abigail choose to leave and Ebere calls her a coward who runs away when things do not go her way and she threatens that her mum would not get a chance with her or her children again.

Yes, maybe sometimes our parents' opinions may be orthodox or traditional, but what about their intentions? Would any right-thinking parent intentionally bring harm our way, do they despise us so much to cause us harm? These are questions we need to carefully think about before taking any action or speaking against them.

Another wonderful character in the movie is Maria (Padita Agu); a friend of Ebere, Maria shows what a true friendship should be like, she is always supportive and never fails to tell Ebere the truth about the need to reconcile with her mother when she had her challenges with her husband and was considering leaving him because he was abusive and always assaulted her, Ebere's mother in turn advised and gave her the moral support she needed as someone who had also go through such terrible experience before.

In conclusion, if there is one key lesson I have learned from this movie, it is the need to address every form of grudges or bitterness before it becomes a wildfire, spreading and consuming all, leaving me bitter and unhappy.

Reference

Strained - 2023