Love and New Notes: How Does A Story on Mysticism, Love and Financial Struggles Work?

Released in Nigerian cinemas on February 13, 2026, Love and New Notes sounds like the title of a soft romantic movie. But the story is far more intense than the name suggests. Set in 1985 Nigeria, the film follows a young couple whose lives are upturned by long-buried secrets, unfolding against the backdrop of a government decree mandating a currency note change.

Directed by Kayode Kasum, who seems to have built a steady working relationship with Timini Egbuson after several collaborations in similar genres, including the critically acclaimed Reel Love, released exactly a year ago, the film pairs Egbuson with Sophia Alakija, marking a welcome return to the big screen. The cast also features Odunlade Adekola, Eniola Badmus, and Toluwani George.

Written by Stephen Okonkwo and rated 18, Love and New Notes arrives just in time to keep the Valentine Cinema weekend Buzzing. However, let us explore the substance of it.

Premise

Set in 1984, Love and New Notes follows the story of two young lovers, Chisom and Boma, whose paths were intertwined by fate. When Chisom tells Boma she is pregnant, the news is mixed with worry. They are barely getting by. How will they afford a baby?

Eager to step up, Boma vows to do everything he can to make some money before the baby arrives. Known for his scheming nature, he sees an opportunity amid the new government decree requiring citizens to exchange old currency notes for new ones. But even that isn’t enough.

At the same time, Chisom, an accountant, is offered a temporary job. A wealthy woman needs someone to help count and document a large amount of cash before exchanging it for the new notes. That job leads her to the haunted home of Mrs Wura Gbadamosi.

Love and New Notes featuring Timini and Sophia Alakija

In that house, things feel eerie from the start. The maid somehow senses that Chisom is pregnant, and a strange man is persistently encouraging her to take some money for herself. When Chisom confides in Boma, he readily supports the idea of stealing the money. He believes this is their chance and convinces her they need it. She reluctantly agrees, and Boma enlists his usual scam associates to help execute the plan.

The plan seems simple. The door is supposed to be left open, as promised by the strange man. But when they manage to get inside, unexpectedly bizarre things begin to happen. What was meant to be an easy heist turns into something far deeper, exposing buried secrets and long-held curses.

In the end, the biggest shock to Boma is the revelation of who Chisom truly is, and he quickly admits that money isn’t everything. While they may not have new notes, they have each other.

Cast and Performances

Sophie Alakija takes centre stage as Chisom, an accountant navigating the challenges of pregnancy with a partner who resorts to scams to cope with their financial struggles. Despite her concerns, she is deeply in love with Boma. Although Sophie doesn’t often appear on the big screen, her talent deserves greater recognition. She fully embodies her role. You see the fear, the worry, the shock, and the emotional pressure she’s under. Here’s hoping we see more of her in future cinema releases.

As expected, any love-themed film directed by Kayode Kasum seems to come with Timini Egbuson. Here, Timini plays Boma, a struggling boyfriend whose scams are not quite working out. He’s also one of the film’s executive producers, which is interesting. His character stands out as a man desperate to provide for the woman he loves, especially now that a baby is on the way. He is frustrated and willing to manipulate Chisom emotionally to get his way. Timini handles this well. He delivers believable arguments, moments of joy, and the kind of desperation that makes Boma both frustrating and understandable.

Odunlade Adekola plays the strange and layered Mr Gbadamosi. Let’s just say he is one of the film’s buried secrets. Odunlade is always reliable, and here he balances humour and tension with ease. His facial expressions and subtle shifts in tone move the audience from laughter to seriousness.

Toluwani George plays Ife, the maid in the Gbadamosi household. If you’ve seen her in Wura or Ms Kanyin, you already know she’s talented. In this film, she steps into a more demanding role. The family dynamic suggests an “Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar” situation. Toluwani handles it with maturity. This role feels like a turning point for her career.

The supporting cast—Ayoola Akinyoola, Tobi Makinde, Moji Afolayan, Constance Owoyomi, Tolu Babs Omish, and Iyiola Davis as the loyal driver Adamu—all contribute well. Overall, the casting is spot on.

Highlights

It seems the universe listened when I previously wished for Nollywood filmmakers to explore more historically grounded stories. Love and New Notes fits this bill perfectly, using the 1984 currency change as a backdrop to weave together themes of mysticism, love, and crimes of passion. The policy back then was two weeks for citizens to exchange their old notes for new ones, and among other things, force hidden money back into the banking system. This caused widespread panic and long queues to beat the tight deadline. The film cleverly leverages this setting as a foundation for its main plot and subplots, and it works well.

Period films are harder to make than futuristic ones because the past has already been documented. Attention to costume, set design, vehicles, and technology matters. The film makes a solid effort here. The technical aspects are well handled. The camera work is engaging, and the lighting helps build tension, especially in eerie scenes.

While the pacing starts slow, the film captivates once Chisom enters Mrs Gbadamosi’s home, maintaining tension and intrigue until the end. The suspense and plot twists contribute to compelling storytelling. But let’s look at a few things that raised questions.

Drawbacks

Some subplots feel unclear. Boma’s scam, for example, isn’t fully explained. Was he dealing in fake new notes? If so, with the policy just announced, it seems unlikely fake currency could circulate that quickly. That part needed clarity.

Also—spoiler alert—the “Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar” angle raises questions. In the flashbacks, it isn’t shown or even suggested that the Gbadamosis tried to find the child the maid gave birth to. That feels like a natural step that was left out.

The mysticism is central to the story, and the film leans slightly into the spooky. But Nollywood still struggles with fully delivering horror. The tension is there, but not enough to leave you unsettled. As someone who watched Egg of Life and couldn’t sleep for days, I know what Nigerian films are capable of when it comes to fear. This film aimed for that level but didn’t quite reach it.

Final Thoughts

Nollywood is clearly evolving in its storytelling, and Love and New Notes is a commendable example of blending mysticism, love, and financial struggles in the 80s. I highly recommend watching it, as I don’t want to give away many spoilers.

Side note: Chisom estimates the money she is meant to count at ₦10 million. In today’s value, that would roughly translate to ₦20–30 billion. When you think about it from Boma’s perspective… You almost understand the temptation.

Rating

4/5

Our Rating of This Movie

Do you need love to convince you to take ₦1 billion out of ₦30 billion for the account?

Author

Alexander Azonobo
Alex is a writer with an undeniable passion for movies and the stories they tell. He loves diving into the world of cinema—exploring its themes, characters, and the artistry that brings it all to life. With an eye for detail and a love for storytelling, he writes to share his thoughts and spark conversations about the films that move, challenge, and inspire us.