Nigerian filmmaker Biodun Stephen has shared an emotional reaction after watching Funke Akindele’s latest film, Behind the Scenes, describing the story as deeply personal and relatable.
In a video posted on her Instagram page, Stephen said the film struck a chord with her life experiences, particularly her struggles with trust and relationships.
“I just finished watching Funke Akindele’s Behind the Scenes. So apt, so true, so relatable,” she said.
She explained that while watching the film, she was troubled by the lead character, Ronke, who she described as a kind person constantly surrounded by people who hurt her.
“What kept bugging me as I was watching was how Ronke, such a good person, could be surrounded by so many bad people,” she said.
Stephen said the question led her to a personal realisation, as she began to see herself in the character’s story.
“Then I realised that Ronke is me. I am a good person. If you know me, you know I believe in pouring into people,” she said.
She added, however, that despite her kindness, she has struggled with choosing the right people to keep around her, a pattern she said has repeatedly led to betrayal.
“But I have a bad taste in selecting those around me, and so repeatedly, they have hurt me,” she added.
The filmmaker went further to recount a recent personal experience, revealing that she had broken down in tears during a phone call with a friend after being betrayed by someone she trusted.
“A few weeks ago, I was on the phone with my friend, and I was crying bitterly because somebody had just betrayed me,” she said.
She said the incident left her questioning her own character.
“I kept asking myself, am I really a good person? Because how can a good person have so much bad taste in the people around her?” she said.
According to her, watching Behind the scenes helped her process those emotions and better understand her situation.
Reflecting on the film’s message, Stephen said the character’s journey highlighted an important lesson about kindness and boundaries.
“When I was watching Behind the scenes, I realised Ronke’s love was kind. Love is kind, but it does not have to be nice because there are so many dragons out there,” she said.
Behind the scenes, produced by Akindele, has continued to generate conversations not only for its commercial success but also for its themes, which centre on relationships, loyalty and personal growth.
The film recently crossed the ₦2 billion mark at the box office, becoming the first Nollywood production to achieve the milestone.
Beyond its financial performance, the film has sparked discussions among viewers since its release on Netflix and Kava tv, who say its storyline mirrors everyday struggles, particularly the challenge of balancing kindness with self-protection.
