The Perfect Picture Or The Wrong Picture?
Written by Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri Wednesday, 24 June 2009 17:45
Sparrow Productions under the directorship of Shirley Frimpong Manso have recently produced another distinct and amazing Ghanaian Movie called the Perfect Picture. Starring in this amazing Romantic Comedy are Jackie Appiah, Lydia Forson, Naa Asorkor mensah-Doku, Adjety Annang, Nana Kwame Osei Sarpong with Chris Attoh and introducing Kwaku Sintin – Misa.
This well written romantic comedy has been widely received and captioned as one of the best movies coming from Ghana after its success in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Accra and London. The film is akin to Peter Heller’s Brown sugar in which three attractive women hitting their thirty try to change their lives for the better. The film sets out to unfold their pursuit for love and tests their friendship. The beautiful scenes were shot in one of the most beautiful places in Ghana(Takoradi).
However, can we really think of this movie as a perfect picture and one that stands tall in the Ghanaian Movie Industry when all it does is to replace our culture with that of others? It is cheerless when we disregard our culture and tussle hard with our own ego to portray ourselves as British or Americans. This is exactly what the Perfect Picture does.
Let us be comfortable in our skin and showcase the factual life style of the ordinary Ghanaian as it is in our Movies. When our story is told in the right way and true language (accent) without diluting it with any uptight “Britishness” to a satisfactory audience, then we can boost of substantial success and break through.
What happened to the dominant Ghanaian settings or way of life? Couldn’t we have told this story in our real landscape surrounded by the trees, gutters, hawkers, trotros among others (the good and the bad) and still achieve the same success? We have seen enough of the Transaco Valley Mansions. Ebei!! How many of Ghanaians live under such conditions?
Undoubtedly, it has seen a greater success but this has been done under a massive deception. Lets be the Ghanaians we are in our movies and people would still buy us the way we are when we tell our story as it actually prevails. Indeed, this is not a Perfect Picture at all, it is a Wrong Picture.
By Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri(Columnist,Ghanacelebrities.com)
Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this site. Ghanacelebrities.com takes no responsibility for the opinions of the author.
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written by Mike Smith, June 24, 2009
This is to comment about the review Chris Agyapong gave of The Perfect Picture. While I respect your displeasure about the actors trying to be un-Ghanaian, I also think that in order to appeal to a bigger (and more different) audience, the movie producers need to blend in. After all, it's their goal to reach a global audience and in order to do that, the movie's message and setting must reflect that. The same can be said of African music. Ofori Amponsah and Amakye Dede while great haven't been able to attract much non-Ghanaian following because their style is exlusively suited to the Ghanaian audience. On the other hand, P Square has enjoyed a massive African-wide following because they are able to incorporate different elements of global tunes in their music. Music and movies are both art forms, but they are also a business.
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written by mighty, June 25, 2009
we can't break boundaries by trying to be something we're not... its superficial and boring... we can't be more British or more American than the British and the Americans... kudos for the good photography and directing(if that) but lets use expensive filming equipment and acquired skills to create something truly representative of who we are... trust me... that's what the world needs, and will grasp... that's how classics are made, lets let films like Heritage Africa and the likes always be a true example.... Wanlov the Kubolor... you shouldn't have brought the Movie to London...
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written by nanayaa, June 25, 2009
I understand the opinions of everyone but why do we always have to tell stories about how poor and uneducated we are. Living in America, I've never seen any positive image the western world potrayed of us. They always show negative pictures and poor lifestlye of Africans. So us Africans, it is our responsibility to show the western world we are more than being poor, uneducated, diseases, famine and etc. We have the right to write our own stories from our own view. We know the majority of the Ghanaian society is poor and uneducated but we also have well educated and well off people in Ghana as well. So my point is that there is no harm telling stories of how well off we are as a people. after all some us are well off and educated. y'all can't understand the fact that the movie is different from our everyday Agya Koo's. Shirley is brilliant and there's nothing wrong with this movie. (We should promote positive image of us and still remain in our own)
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written by mighty, June 26, 2009
RE we should promote positive images of Africans
So your idea of promoting a positive of africans is to show how westernised we are? wow.... is that how we as an indigenous people with a rich culture that the western culture secretly envies express our wealth?? by dressing like them, talking like them, and losing everything else that makes us unique as a people? The issue here is way bigger than you think... once again.. pls refer to Heritage Africa
So your idea of promoting a positive of africans is to show how westernised we are? wow.... is that how we as an indigenous people with a rich culture that the western culture secretly envies express our wealth?? by dressing like them, talking like them, and losing everything else that makes us unique as a people? The issue here is way bigger than you think... once again.. pls refer to Heritage Africa
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written by nanayaa, June 26, 2009
To mighty, what is so western about this movie. I guess you wanted them to dress half naked like our ancestors used to do after all is the culture we know, right. We eat western food so why can't we dress like them. Dressing like them don't make us one or reject our culture. and about their accent, what is so western about it. Jackie was born in the US so in some way her accent will change a bit. After all they are speaking english which is the western language so why can't they speak exactly like them.(maybe we should try speaking twi in all our movies and add captions, I think that will help) But don't forget we have over 100 languages in Ghana so always speaking twi in movies will raise ethnical issues. remember movies are also for entertainment not always to prove a point. this is not a documentary, producers, directors and the cast need their money at the end of the day because it is business they are runing. How many American movies you've watch that are based on their lifestyle but you still enjoy it without complaining right, movies are there to entertain than to prove a piont always. How many of our so called "movies based of our lifestyle" has sold world wide or has educated us in some level. I think some of us needs to relax there's nothing wrong with this movie.
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written by sandelad, June 26, 2009
well i think the ghanaian culture is changing therefore we have to accept change in our lives as well so . i think this movie actually portrays adults in recent years. we do internet dating, we ve marital problems, we falll for our services providers so i think it is de same thing are we trying to say there aint rich people in ghana .people stop making it seem that ghanaians live in poverty and so movies have to be done to portray poverty .like actors in a compound house with problems from neighbors not everyone lives like that.
big ups sparrow
big ups sparrow
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written by Concern Citizen, June 27, 2009
It is sad to know some folks think we have to be americans or adopt the culture of the western world to be able to sell. What happened to the concept of domestication and true culture? We want to sell our movies to the world so we have go westernized? Is our culture not rich enough to sell in the world? Do you know how many copies the movie Kinta Kunte sold?
We need to be proud of our cultural enrichment and package it with all the good ingredients it has and sell it to the world as it is. Shirley has done well but couldnt she has done this within our cultural heritage? This is a Ghanaian Movie which means it is suppose to reflect on the lives of Ghanaian(majority of Ghanaians). The majority do not live the lives shown in that movie. It does not therefore reflect or represent any aspect of the Ghanaian way of life. What happened to the majority rules?
We need to be proud of our cultural enrichment and package it with all the good ingredients it has and sell it to the world as it is. Shirley has done well but couldnt she has done this within our cultural heritage? This is a Ghanaian Movie which means it is suppose to reflect on the lives of Ghanaian(majority of Ghanaians). The majority do not live the lives shown in that movie. It does not therefore reflect or represent any aspect of the Ghanaian way of life. What happened to the majority rules?
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written by rita, June 27, 2009
this write is 2 much, this movie is very gud and colorful and teachs alot abt our country period. rem dis ghana is growing very well and so is the movie industries, what shirley is doing is very brilliant,dis movie was real and alot of learn was learnt 4 me anyways. if u want 2 watch a movie abt our culture or abt true gh u shd watch agye koo and the other and leave ma idol alone.l give dis movie a 10+ period said ma own
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written by daniel offei, June 29, 2009
for the past few years now, i have not been a fun of African movies, especially that of Ghanaians. With Shirley in colllabration with sparrow productions, i have began to have a considerable amount of interest in Ghanaian movies. What is this talk about it not portraying our culture. Watching the movie carefully, u will notice songs made by Amakye Dede and Kwabena Kwabena were being used. I think the combination of both the local and westernized setting did the trick and made the movie soo perfect as its name. Lets try to appreciate the effort Shirley is putting in to make Ghanaian movie better. If this is the way we can revive our movie industry then I don't have any promblem with it. After all majority of movie lovers now are the youth who prefer this kind of movies.
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written by precious20, July 01, 2009
This is by far the best movie yet! The Perfect Picture is remarkable and well-written movie. Shirley Frimpong Manso has proven to be the best writter in ghanaian movies. she has made the ghanaian movie industry grow better and should be awarded for it. I think the cast did a great job. this the only movie I've seen Jackie Appiah as an actress. the role was perfect for her and the custume was forever beautiful. I think Jackie should do more movies with Sparrow Productions. She played really well and was brilliant. There was nothing wrong with the english accent in this movie. If you they are trying to speak british then you are wrong because I came to Canada when I was twelve years old and I've adapt to the Canadian culture and I speak with the accent. If I were to act in a movie with my accent would you say I'm diluting Canadian accent?? 
I think they did a wonderful job. Big ups to Miss Shirley Frimpong Manso!!!!
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written by amma, July 01, 2009
This movie has became a great greated than i image. Its my fav.
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written by akosua22, July 01, 2009
oh fuck of Chris-Vincent Agyapong Febiri or whatever your name is... this movie is very good obviously we need a change because the movies they were doing wasn't getting ghanian industry very far and this movie seems to be the breakthrough we need..... what century are you living in because these situation goes on in everyday life
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written by Adwoa20, July 02, 2009
What is wrong with this man???????? This movie was very different. it's a movie everyone can relate to. It's about time we got something different and better. I am really tired of Kabat Eguson and Frank Rajah Arase and their barbaric stories about kings, prince, and the rich marrying the rich and not the poor. It is very overwelhming watching those kind of movies. I mean what is up with that??????? 
All Frank Rajah does is repeat the same stories and is just upsetting to see their movies. I think Shirley Frimpong Manso and her sparrow crew are the BEST out there now!! We should all be happy and thank her for this wonderful effort.
So Mr. Chris-Vincent Agyapong, please go back and rewatch the Perfect Picture or better jet just watch all Shirley Frimpong Manso's movies, "life and Living It and Scorned". Thank you and God Bless!!
All Frank Rajah does is repeat the same stories and is just upsetting to see their movies. I think Shirley Frimpong Manso and her sparrow crew are the BEST out there now!! We should all be happy and thank her for this wonderful effort. So Mr. Chris-Vincent Agyapong, please go back and rewatch the Perfect Picture or better jet just watch all Shirley Frimpong Manso's movies, "life and Living It and Scorned". Thank you and God Bless!!
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written by Charleen frm Wash ,, DC, July 02, 2009
The perfect picutre is the best damn film well done Shirley God bless and Guide u always
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written by amma, July 02, 2009
i have just watch this film and i love it soooo sooooo much well done everybody 
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written by Jeannette, July 03, 2009
It is interesting to see the views and opinions that many have about this movie. Its as simple as this: whether u like it or not, Perfect Picture is a well produced, well directed, and well acted movie. It is great that some of us think we should be able to create a great movie by continuing to show to the world the images they already have of us as Africans. However is that what we really want. When surrounding countries and continents put us down by marking us as Third world, we are so quick to jump and try to disprove them of that statement or marking. Yet the same people want us to show those very same countries images in movies that would prove them right and us wrong. Look, i think what Shirley Frimpong-Manso and her team are doing is great. The diversity they are providing in African movies is being done with such grace and eloquence. How lovely it would be to have a Ghanaian film be shown at an International film festival or better yet the Cannes film festival. Imagine the critical acclaim we would get as ghanaians and the good it could do for our country. Look at the Indians and their success. They had a name for themselves even before Slumdog millionaire came about. The movie Industry is a very hard one to work in, and least we all forget, unless a movie is based on a particular situation, they are all simply works of art and majority of the time also fictional. All i am saying is we should give respect where respect is due. Much respect to the entire team that put together "Life and Living It" as well as "The Perfect Picture".
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written by matilda, July 03, 2009
you know l love this movie lasked all my friend to do so. just look at the story line the makeup and who said the show the nice places just put you burt down and watch it again girl you did a great job a lwill by your movies even if you laugh on the tape .thank you for bring ghana up.thanks sw
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written by lex, July 04, 2009
thanks every one we need to support sparrow production on this one i even think we need to even look at stories like how we migrate to other countries and reasons why we refuse to go back to our homeland...based on people like mr febiri.......who have this pull me down ...spirit.....
gosh can i get this movie on ebay .......because it is killing me every single day dat i vent watched any of sparrow production movies....i keep watching de thriller hoping that one day i get it on line .......
gosh can i get this movie on ebay .......because it is killing me every single day dat i vent watched any of sparrow production movies....i keep watching de thriller hoping that one day i get it on line .......
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written by frema, July 04, 2009
I cant wait to see this movie, so far people have given the movie good reviews. I know KSM will not be in any tacky movie, and shirley manso is a good writer, producer/director, i watch 'life and living it' all the time, i dont get tired of it.
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written by antye504, July 09, 2009
I'm sorry but I think like most people you're simply trying to find fault where there is none. The movie is not a deception and nobody is making an attempt to be British, American, Caribbean or whatever satisfies your definition of a deceptive identity.
All this movie does is tell a story. A story that is very likely. And the locations fit very well with the story it depicts. Since you dragged America into this, watch American movies; they DO NOT show you the crappy locations unless it is absolutely necessary or falls in line with the story, why? Because the viewer wants to be pleased aesthetically. Perfect Picture does not need slums and trotros so it does not show them...!
Also since when did speaking correct English become akin to faking an identity. English is not our native tongue and inadvertently when we speak it we flaw it in may ways, so tell me what is wrong in actors trying to speak it correctly to appeal to a global audience. the same way Twi or French words are pronounced in a certain distinct manner, the same should apply for English. If the language was Twi and the accent was British then you would have a point.
I repeat, American and British movies show only their most beautiful locations (even enhanced by technology), unless the story warrant some run-down, rustic town. Think of the cities they use as locations-Miami, NY, London, Paris...The Perfect Picture characters are not poor so do not expect them to shoot locations like Nima, Fadam and Nyamekye(these are just examples and do not fully apply) for the movie.
All this movie does is tell a story. A story that is very likely. And the locations fit very well with the story it depicts. Since you dragged America into this, watch American movies; they DO NOT show you the crappy locations unless it is absolutely necessary or falls in line with the story, why? Because the viewer wants to be pleased aesthetically. Perfect Picture does not need slums and trotros so it does not show them...!
Also since when did speaking correct English become akin to faking an identity. English is not our native tongue and inadvertently when we speak it we flaw it in may ways, so tell me what is wrong in actors trying to speak it correctly to appeal to a global audience. the same way Twi or French words are pronounced in a certain distinct manner, the same should apply for English. If the language was Twi and the accent was British then you would have a point.
I repeat, American and British movies show only their most beautiful locations (even enhanced by technology), unless the story warrant some run-down, rustic town. Think of the cities they use as locations-Miami, NY, London, Paris...The Perfect Picture characters are not poor so do not expect them to shoot locations like Nima, Fadam and Nyamekye(these are just examples and do not fully apply) for the movie.
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written by blackchinese, July 22, 2009
This was a wonderful movie. I really liked it. Personally I can't say what the Ghanaian culture is, I just thought that what was protrayed in the movie is the every day life of Ghanaians. Weren't they just going about they daily lives? They spoke english with Ghanaian accent, nothing wrong with that - they are Ghanaians afterall. Two thumbs up for this movie.
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written by Ama P, July 22, 2009
the perfect picture is a great movie. the setting and everything about it. i can dare to put it against some western movies i hv seen. about the culture, there is nothing wrong with it. that movie kunta kinte sold alot because it had something to do with african history and the slave trade- which is a big deal. this movie was meant for entertainment purposes. it is not in the same league as kunta. westerners can be ignorant sometimes and it is our responsibility as africans to prove to them that africa has beautiful aspects to it. and that we have progressed in terms of technology and moving along with the rest of the world....so please let us not hate on the culture. we have shown that in alot of our movies already!
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written by Naama, July 23, 2009
well the perfect picture is really a nice story but not a good movie for up coming teenagers cos it has romantic scenes and when watched by them, they intend try to practice what they see or watched
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written by mamab, July 24, 2009
chris, wat de hell r u talking abt? do u still live and dress traditionally all the tyme. wake up my friend, we r no more in the olden day. this is a new era and this movie depicts wat happens everyday in every relationship. come on, be fare.
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written by yyyyyy, August 24, 2009
I'm appalled at the very myopic view of these critics. I really can't believe it. Let me ask a few questions. Are we not all running the race to win just one price? and in this case are not all the countries striving to gain not only recognition but also the actual status of being a developed country? I'm saddened by the thought that what these critics see as cultural is a show of poverty, backwardnes, and mediocracy. But the last time I checked, the word culture could be described as being dynamic.
Again tell me, how many times have the shanty regions, I mean the poverty stricken regions, of America, South Africa or any of the so called great countries been shown on TV. It is not about denying that we have problems but rather about putting our best foot forward and this is what Ghanaians are trying to do.What a level of hypocrisy from these critics!!!!!, you sound so content with the mediocracy of Ghana yet I bet you will opt to have and probably show off the best things in life. I'm deeply ashamed
Again tell me, how many times have the shanty regions, I mean the poverty stricken regions, of America, South Africa or any of the so called great countries been shown on TV. It is not about denying that we have problems but rather about putting our best foot forward and this is what Ghanaians are trying to do.What a level of hypocrisy from these critics!!!!!, you sound so content with the mediocracy of Ghana yet I bet you will opt to have and probably show off the best things in life. I'm deeply ashamed
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