No matter how incorrigible you’ve been since elementary down to high school, college life must have an influence on you (could be positive or negative). This truth is painted vividly in Jude Okwudiafor Johnson’s ‘Freshman Year’, a faith-based film centred on the main character CJ, a young man born into a Christian family. His Father Chukwuma is a Nigerian and revered man of God while his mum Veronica, a legal expert and a respectable woman of British descent.
CJ leaves home for the first time to college and crosses path with a Latino, Marcella. Torn between staying faithful to his doctrine and the perks of college life, he makes a huge mistake that changes his life and questions every virtue his father has inculcated in him.
Why You Should Watch FreshMan Year
If you are not a parent yet, you most definitely are someone’s brother or sister, friend, girlfriend or boyfriend. The story written by Jude Okwudiafor Johnson and Toby Osborne definitely had everyone in mind.
Freshman Year seizes the opportunity to change the narrative of cliché reactions triggered by immorality or unforeseen mistakes in society. Here’s how it appeals to you in whichever category you fall under.
To Parents:
How true is it that if you train up a child in the way he should go, he will never depart from it even when he’s old? A lot of Parents, especially religiously inclined ones are sunk in the delusion that their children will grow up the way they taught them to be. While this might work out well from toddler to teenage age, adulthood might be threatening.
Chukwuma couldn’t hide his displeasure the moment his son, CJ broke the news that he got a girl (Marcella) pregnant. In such little space of leaving home, his son had committed a crime that made him question his relationship with God and biblical teachings. Despite all odds, he allows love to lead.
Examining the roles played by CJ’s parents and Marcella’s mum, I urge every Parent to watch “Freshman Year”. A child’s deviation from the parents teaching does not always mean he/she has not been listening the whole time. It’s either posed by a mistake or peer pressure. Peer pressure has a strong grip especially for children who were trained to always stay indoors. The moment the child takes a peek at the outer world with little or no supervision, he/she is bound to explore the other side of the coin.
Among all the characters who played the role of a parent, I loved Chukwuma more. His reaction changed the entire cause of the movie from what I thought it would be. His derivation from the whole scenario that God was trying to teach him balance is the reality of how many men of God live their lives. The majority are entangled in the duty of fixing other people’s homes while a deep hole engulfs their household.
To The Boyfriend Or Girlfriend:
The day you decide to start having premarital sex should be the day you decide to be ready for whatever consequences. My heart kept racing for CJ the moment he decided to father the child instead of an abortion. What will he say to his father knowing he had spent all his life ensuring he grows up to be a good man? Only 2 out of 10 boyfriends will think in that direction. CJ allowed love to lead and stuck to his beliefs about the bible being against abortion. Even though he deviated from biblical teachings at some point, he understood the efficacy as he retraced his steps.
To The Brother or Sister:
No two children are the same, even if born of the same parent. Watching Freshman Year, I learnt the importance of why siblings need to be friends, possibly best friends. Training children from a tender age to eat together, play together, pray together etc. creates a good bond. It helps manage unforeseen circumstances that could bring disunity in the future. Comparing CJ’s home to Marcella’s, it’s easy to spot the difference. CJ being an exemplary brother made it easy for his siblings to accommodate his shortcomings. Hector, on the other hand, is more of a bully figure than a brother to Marcella, he acted very irrationally on getting the news of her pregnancy.
To The Friend:
The word ‘Friendship’ is ineffective if ‘Good’ is missing. There is more to friendship than gossip. Kudos to Marcella and CJ’s friends for offering the needed support when it came calling. Freshman Year will open your eyes on how to become a better friend, I guarantee.
And That’s A Wrap:
There is usually great shock and excessive disappointment every time a parent uncovers that their child has fallen off the wagon. It’s a scar that may never fade; it’s a scar that amassed so much weight to crumble all the repute they’ve built in years past. Is it the child’s fault, or the fault of the parent who for so long wallowed blindly in the delusion that only their choices and doctrines matter? I enjoyed watching Freshman Year and I bet you would too. What I love most is its beauty in flipping the narrative about the usual reactions. The movie above all preaches love, family, the beauty of calm and patience and above all when God teaches balance. Its angle to Christianity is outstanding.
Such a great movie. Well done with the review also, it felt like I was watching all over again.😎
Thank you. 🎊
I am uni student in the age of 20 year old from a muslim background and i really loved the idea of this movie and I enjoyed watching every single minute of the show. However, there are things does not goes with my religion, such as having sex before getting married. Above all, your review is incredibly amazing & I’m pretty sure this review will be more interesting for many people to understand the deep outcome of the film. well done.
Thanks!
Adam
Hi Adam,
Good to have you here. I’m glad your background was not a restriction in relating to its message. Most importantly, thank you for reaching out, I hope to see more of your feedbacks here. Cheers🎊🎊
Thank you.
I’ve not Seen this movie, but this review took me through it and left me with the message of Love as God wants us to… Great job! I’ll love to watch the movie too though.
😁😁 Thank you. Netflix has it. Long time Airstar😁😁
I came across this site today and I wished I had come across it a bit earlier, but it’s better late than never. I have been going through most of the contents on the site and I stumbled on this review so I had to go and download the movie to watch. I must say I really learnt alot from the movie. I was really overwhelmed with the love and support shown to CJ and Marcella. It’s indeed and great movie and thanks for the review.
😅😅😅 thank you, your words are encouraging too. I hope you enjoy more stories here and stick with me. Thank you❣.
I must admit, this movie is the best Christian film I’ve watched. The narrative is uniquely superb. I’m glad my review influenced your decision😄
Trust me, you have great contents here and I’m so sticking right here with you😀😀
Thank youuuuù😁
The movie is wonderful and would recommend it to every youth
Absolutely 💯