Mending is a Nollywood drama that premiered in Nigerian cinemas on June 27, 2025. Directed by Robert O. Peters, the film runs for 1 hour and 44 minutes and is rated 18+. The story follows Sunmisola (Nancy Isime), a woman battling deep-rooted separation anxiety stemming from her father’s abandonment and her mother’s death. Now surrounded by her husband, child, and best friend, Sumi begins to rebuild her life, until her past resurfaces in Fela, a man tied to a buried mistake, who has now returned seeking revenge.
The Premise
Sunmi has a seemingly perfect life. Her husband, Damini, a pastor, and their lovely daughter are now her whole world. But beneath the surface of this life she holds dear is a constant fear of abandonment. It has become her psychological state, always afraid of being left alone. Every time she can’t reach her husband, she fears the worst. Her frequent therapy visits don’t seem to be helping either. She’s opened up about her childhood, how her father abandoned her when she was little, and how her mother died not long after. We see clearly where her fears stem from.
But things sharply turn when a buried part of her past resurfaces.
For their anniversary, Damini invites Sunmi’s best friend, Funbi, and her husband to a resort for a surprise celebration. Sunmi, so consumed by her anxiety, has completely forgotten the date. Everything seems to be going well—until Fela shows up. He’s a guest at the resort, invited by Damini. Sunmi and Funbi are stunned. Isn’t this…?
Fela acts like he doesn’t know them, but soon corners Sunmi for private conversations. His presence unravels a history she hoped was long buried. Years ago, Sunmi stabbed Fela and left him for dead, punishment for daring to break up with her. It turns out that Funbi may have played a hidden role in Sunmi’s breakdown, the very one that led to that violent act. But now he’s back, asking questions and stirring panic.
Now, both women are backed into corners. Sunmi is desperate to keep her marriage intact. Funbi is terrified of losing her family’s fragile balance. And Fela, unaware of just how deep the damage runs, may have misjudged how far these women will go to protect what they can’t lose.
Mending explores truth, friendship, betrayal, and the psychological effects of our past. But when you patch a broken truth with silence and fear, can anything truly be mended? And if it is, at what cost?
Cast and Performances in Mending
Nancy Isime as Sunmisola showed just how layered and increasingly talented she is as an actress. She brought real emotion to the role, making Sunmi’s unravelling feel authentic and relatable. Her pairing with Omowunmi Dada as Funbi was a masterclass in chemistry. Both women delivered strongly, especially in portraying the tension, secrets, and emotional weight their characters carry.
Their husbands, played by Ademola Adedoyin (Damini) and Tumininu Oluyole (Kachi), also brought commendable performances. Adedoyin played the calm, supportive husband well, while Oluyole, who also served as the film’s executive producer, held his own, though some scenes could have used better performances.
Eyinna Nwigwe, as Fela, truly sold his role. He was convincing as the menacing and unrelenting blast from the past. His cool, calculated presence added a layer of tension that never quite lets up.
Shaffy Bello appears as Sunmisola’s therapist, a minor but meaningful role she delivers with grace and poise. However, my long-standing concern remains: assigning such small, unreserved roles to big names often sidelines opportunities for emerging talent, and it’s something Nollywood needs to start thinking more carefully about.
The supporting cast added solid texture to the story, and the child actors, especially Oluyole’s real-life daughters, did a great job of grounding the film’s emotional moments. In all, their performances brought a natural, heartfelt energy to the story of the film.
What I Liked About Mending
The first thing to appreciate about Mending is its storyline. It boldly explores mental health issues rooted in childhood trauma and how those unhealed wounds can quietly shape adult lives. It also touches on friendship, betrayal, and broken trust, exploring the messiness of human relationships in ways that feel relatable. Family values are also central to the story, especially the lengths people will go to protect the image of a happy home, even when it’s built on secrets.
What makes the plot stand out is how these themes are all blended into a single, cohesive arc. The use of flashbacks and timeline shifts was a smart directional choice. Events play out in real time, only to circle back and show what really happened before. It kept the suspense alive and maintained a steady rhythm that made it hard to look away. You’re constantly guessing, constantly re-evaluating what you thought you knew.
The cinematography was another highlight, crisp, intentional, and beautiful to watch. The sound design and film score were also solid, giving emotional weight where needed. Overall, Mending felt like a complete, thoughtful story. It didn’t just entertain, it held up its emotional core really well.
Weak Points
Despite its near-perfect execution, Mending leaves a few loose ends that feel more like narrative convenience than thoughtful storytelling. The film’s ending, while dramatic, comes across as slightly forced and unconvincing. After portraying the two families—Sunmi and Damini, Funbi and Kachi—as close friends, it’s hard to believe that significant events involving Kachi’s wife wouldn’t reach Damini sooner.
In real-world terms, the lack of communication between the two men, especially considering how serious the situation becomes, feels unrealistic. At the very least, Kachi could have put a call through to his friend, shared a few critical truths, or given a hint of what had happened, especially before that ending. The choice to withhold that connection seems to exist solely to heighten the drama, rather than reflect how people would actually behave.
This oversight feels more like a crafted twist than an organic unravelling. It’s a reminder that even in thrillers, believability matters, and real relationships, especially close ones, should behave like they would in real life.
Final Thoughts
Trailers are meant to build anticipation, but Mending honestly didn’t have the strongest one, and I almost skipped it because of that. But this is one of those rare cases where judging a film by its trailer would have been a mistake. Mending turns out to be a thoughtfully layered story, unravelling at a pace that keeps you engaged and curious. Its themes are woven together with care. In the end, Mending isn’t just a drama; it’s a reflection on the past’s grip on the present, and how healing often comes with difficult truths. It may not scream for your attention, but once you watch it, it quietly earns your respect. Definitely worth seeing.
Rating
I would rate Mending 4.5 out of 5 stars.
How far would you go to protect the life you’ve built, especially if it means hiding parts of your past or yourself?
