To Be a Friend Movie Review – A Gripping Nollywood Tale of Betrayal and Loyalty

 Movie Review: To Be a Friend

Have you ever watched Unexpected Places, Shining Star, or Broken Hallelujah? If you have, then you already know the kind of emotional depth and artistic brilliance that Bimbo Ademoye brings to the screen. As an actress, she captivates us. As a producer, she challenges storytelling norms and creates stories that feel deeply personal yet universally relatable. Her latest work, To Be a Friend, is no exception — a film layered with betrayal, ambition, love, pain, and healing.

One of the reasons I love Bimbo’s movies is how real they feel — not overly complicated, not far-fetched, just honest and human. So when I saw the title, To Be a Friend, something about it pulled me in. I was curious: What exactly does it mean to be a friend? That curiosity led me into one of the most gripping and emotionally charged Nollywood stories I’ve seen recently.

To Be a Friend opens with Tega in prison, accused of murdering his wife, Folasade, after a violent anniversary night. Through flashbacks, we learn that Tega and his best friend, Tunde, had once dreamed of starting a tech company together while at university. Years later, Tega becomes successful and hires a now-struggling Tunde as COO of the company they once imagined. Tega marries Folasade, a woman he’s always loved, but their marriage becomes rocky due to his growing emotional distance and obsession with work.  On their anniversary, after a bitter argument, Tega wakes up covered in blood with Folasade missing,  leading to his arrest and imprisonment.  While in prison, Tega is protected by a man named Rugged, and during a planned prison escape, Tega discovers shocking evidence that Folasade is alive.  In a painful twist, it’s revealed that Tunde and Folasade conspired to frame him, and Tega is left to confront not only betrayal but the meaning of true friendship and trust.

The most powerful theme in this film is betrayal in the name of friendship,  and how love, trust, and loyalty can become twisted when pride and power enter the picture. The storyline forces us to ask hard questions: What happens when your closest friend envies you? When the person you love the most sets you up for destruction? It’s dark, but it’s also real  because life isn’t always about happy endings.

One thing that felt very authentic was the way male friendship was portrayed — the quiet dreams, the shared struggles, and the unspoken jealousy that sometimes grows when one friend "makes it" before the other. However, I felt that Folasade's motivation could have been fleshed out a little more.Her betrayal felt sudden, and while the twist was shocking, it could have hit even harder with more emotional buildup.

A scene that was absolutely necessary was Tega’s discovery of the betrayal. It tied everything together and gave depth to his pain. If I had to cut one thing, maybe the extended prison planning scenes could’ve been shorter. They slowed down the middle part of the movie a bit.

Tega was the heart of this movie; a man broken by betrayal, yet still trying to understand how love turned into a trap. His pain was visible in every expression, every silence. He reminded me of that person we all know,  the one who gives everything to people, only to be left in pieces by them.

Tunde was also a fascinating character. He’s the kind of “friend” who supports you in public but secretly keeps score. His character reminds me of real-life friendships that are rooted in comparison, not connection. You see the signs late, and by then, it’s too late.

Bimbo Ademoye as Folasade was sharp and emotionally confusing, and that’s what made it brilliant. She made us wonder: Did she love Tega? Was it all a game? Or did she simply choose herself? Her acting was subtle but powerful, making her betrayal even more painful.

This movie didn’t just entertain me; it made me reflect. I thought about the friendships I’ve had, the ones that faded, and the ones that hurt. I thought about how sometimes we give our best to people who are just waiting for us to fall. To Be a Friend is not a feel-good movie — it’s a feel-deep movie.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely, especially if you're someone who values loyalty, or if you’ve ever had to question the people closest to you. It’s not just a movie; it’s a reality check.

Friendship is more than shared memories; it’s shared trust, shared truth, and shared growth. And sometimes, being a friend isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being genuine.

To Be a Friend reminded me that the real betrayal doesn’t come from enemies; it comes from those who call us friend.