The gods MUST BE JOKING: Yinusa A. Koredeβs Hilarious Tale of Luck and Absurdity [#TAFM24]
It is a whimsical exploration of luck and absurdity in everyday life
The gods MUST BE JOKING is a short film, about 23 minutes long, written and directed by Yinusa A. Korede. It was screened at the Annual Film Mischief 2024.
The opening shot of The Gods Must Be Joking greets the audience with a humorous disclaimer: βThis film is based on events that are yet to happen.β Itβs a witty touch, and the laughter in the hall was immediateβsetting the tone for the zany ride that was about to unfold.
In this 23-minute short film written and directed by Yinusa A. Korede, we meet Caro (Rhoda Olowu) and Nedu (Paul Nnadiewkwe), a couple going about their morning routine. Caro, in a rush to get to work, warns Nedu not to finish the food sheβs left, as itβs all they have. Neduβs response? βIf e finish, God go provide.β And just like that, weβre clued in: this story is about to get wild. Even the washed black-and-white color grading seems to agree with the oddball vibe.
The Gods Must Be Joking never hits the brakes on its eccentricity. From the pidgin dialogue to the over-the-top character quirks, itβs a whirlwind of absurdity that somehow remains incredibly relatable. Thatβs the beauty of the filmβdespite how ridiculous its characters seem, they represent people weβve encountered in real life.
At the center of the chaos is Nedu, a man who prays for βsmall work with plenty money.β It quickly becomes apparent that heβs a lazy man, unwilling to put in effort but desperate for a windfall. His luck takes an unexpected turn when he crosses paths with a self-aware, talking stray dog who promises him unlimited good fortune in exchange for his acceptance. Yes, you read that rightβa talking dog! But the joy of Neduβs newfound luck is short-lived when his wife makes a shocking decision that turns everything upside down.
The film, which riffs on the title of the iconic 1980s film The Gods Must Be Crazy, is packed with laugh-out-loud moments. While the idea of a talking dog sounds utterly ridiculous, Korede leans into that absurdity, crafting a story that feels like it was plucked straight from the imagination of someone who grew up hearing wild tales on the streets of Nigeria. Itβs clever, fast-paced, and never overstays its welcome.
The filmβs perfect length, incredible performances, and witty dialogue make it a standout short. Nedu and Caro are wonderfully portrayed by their actors, and even the dog feels like a well-cast character. But itβs the writingβcleverly threading the fine line between absurdity and truthβthat truly shines.
As the audience couldnβt stop laughing, it became clear that Koredeβs The Gods Must Be Joking is a love letter to the random, often unbelievable stories weβve all heard at some point in our lives. And itβs nothing short of delightful.
