Billed as a rom com, “Soft Love” (2024) works better as a cosmopolitan soap opera. After a public and embarrassing heartbreak, a social media influencer, Zandi (Cindy Mahlangu), meets a photographer, Edward Obi (Efa Iwara) with a mysterious past seeking to expand his career and work permit so he can stay in South Africa and pursue his dreams, but his family wants him to return to Nigeria and fulfill his duties. Will they be able to stay together? Do not try this at home because if it was not a movie, they really should not. So many red flags, but the movie is so pretty with the actors doing their best to keep it cute that it may be worth going along for the ride.
Zandi has a dream life with her fiancé, Dumi (Sanda Shandu), which she knew since childhood. After being in a fifteen-year relationship together, he leaves her at the altar. Her best friend and roommate, TK (Rosemary Zimu), is a fierce protector and encourager until she gets distracted by her latest beau, Benji (Danny Ross), then she is the worst even if well-intentioned. TK encourages a rebound with Edward even though the meet cute reveals Edward’s tendency to sulk under the right circumstances, which rears its ugly head later when he has no right to be stuck in his feelings. Turns out that he is an entitled man boy who expects much from everyone except himself.
Because Mahlangu and Iwara are attractive, there is initially no obvious reason to not root for them to get together. Even though Zandi is initially positioned as the protagonist, eventually Edward’s story takes over and takes up all the oxygen in the room. If “Soft Love” was marketed with him as the central focus, and the beginning was structured differently, then it would not be a problem. It could have been a fifty-fifty split, but Edward’s drama completely consumes Zandi’s storyline, and Zandi is the equivalent of an unshaped adolescent obsessed with appearances. Soon she has no career, is just involved in building up Edward’s life and spends less time with her friend. She ends up being a supporting character in her film, not a whole person who can stand on her own.
Edward’s story takes multiple left turns, which will not be spoiled here, but each one is sufficient to be a deal breaker; however, “Soft Love” twists itself into pretzels to frame Edward as the aggrieved party as if everyone else is wrong and should support him. Edward does not really need Zandi’s support with three other women in the wings keeping him aloft. Four just seems greedy. His mother (Carol King), a successful owner of eleven restaurants, is ready to retire so she can visit Asia, start dating and fully immerse herself in having fun. Edward does not know what is wrong with his mother. Um, he is living off her money that she works for and wants a break from working for her. It seems like he is the only person who would get it since he is already retired in many ways except traveling closer to home and pursuing a dream instead of balancing a dream with sustainable practical logistics to sustain it. Normally Mrs. Obi would give the impression of a controlling mother who overreaches, but given the information that she had, she is cool. I do feel cheated that the movie never disclosed how she endangered her life for him. Also, Edward, sleep in your damn bed and stop being annoyed that your mom is exercising in the living room. That is where she is supposed to do it. Good for her. Ugh. Go on your trip, Mrs. Obi!
Edward has his sister, Chioma (Genoveva Umeh), who works in the expansion section of the business. Chioma was my favorite person in the plot though her blind spot for her brother will land her into being his work horse while he does not pick up the slack or ever give her a break. Chioma is the only one who has her family’s back at home and work. Amaka (Dorcas Shola Fapson), who works in accounts supervision, has Mrs. Obi’s favor, but not Edward’s though she once did. Her identity is a mystery until the second half of “Soft Love” when she is set up as the villain. If this movie was a soap opera, she would be the character that everyone loves to hate, the Alexis Carrington in this family dynasty. Fapson is delicious and a standout. If “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” was a person, the phrase would be personified in Amaka. In business, she went over the line, but everywhere else, she was right. Honestly, if “Soft Love” was a series, the war between Chioma and Amaka would be more fun to watch. While writer Paballo Molingoane never bores, she had a choice between making the romantic relationship obstacles less damning or leaning into the overblown melodrama to fully embrace the messiness. Also, as an American outsider, I was hoping that a story originating from a majority Black country would not involve realistic stakes like getting arrested, but it is a regular plot point. Even escapism ends in cuffs. It is “Keanu” (2016) all over again.
There are white characters, but they are mostly in the background as extras with no lines though often government officials or people in power. Edward’s sassy work best friend, Witbooi (Dalin Oliver), is a shady white guy. Edward’s boss, Mr. Booysens (Matthew Dylan Roberts), delivers a much-needed dose of morality, but hearing a curt lecture from a possible Afrikaner feels dissonant. Also Dirk Van Noordwyk plays a boyfriend to a South African gay man, who surprisingly seems to be auditioning for Zandi’s gay best friend, which was the most shocking plot twist. The media gives the impression that LGBTQ+ people are not accepted across the ocean, but it was nice to see that a gay couple found love even before Zandi, who defines herself by her relationships.
“Soft Love” is beautiful to watch. Cinematographer Ebrahim Hajee captures the majesty of South Africa whether it is interior or exterior shots, and usually people favor one over the other. The 11th African Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards nominated Hajee in the Best Cinematography category. Director Holmes Awa’s use of screen casting for texts, social media posts, and Instagram never overshadowed the plot, but supplemented it. I watched the movie on television so occasionally it was hard to read the text. A minor pointer would be for all directors to realize that most people will be watching your movies at home, not in the movie theaters, so before releasing it, make sure that the quality holds up regardless of screen size. Now people watch entire movies on their smartphones, which seems insane, but it is a part of the business. It is not listed, but whoever scouted the location, handled wardrobe and worked on the sets did an excellent job. Even though this movie is far more substantial than a tourism video, it definitely gave the “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018) treatment to Lagos and Johannesburg.
“Soft Love” is entertaining fare, but not as light as advertised. If you can handle the dramatic downturns in Edward’s character and pretend that the red flags are parades, then this rom com, which is light on the com, will be a nice change of pace.
