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FOR LOVE

By Joy GHARORO-AKPOJOTOR

LGBT - Completed 2021

Illegal immigrant Nkechi lives happily in the shadows with her partner Martha, but when immigration officers turn up unexpectedly, they have to make difficult decisions about
their future together.

- Year of production
- 2021
- Genres
- LGBT, Female director, Drama
- Countries
- UNITED KINGDOM
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Duration
- 13 mn
- Director(s)
- Joy GHARORO-AKPOJOTOR
- Writer(s)
- Joy GHARORO-AKPOJOTOR
- Cast
- Marcy DOLAPO ONI, Ann AKINJIRIN, Diana YEKINNI, Damola ADELAJA
- Producer(s)
- Emily MORGAN
- Synopsis
- Nkechi, an illegal immigrant, has been living with her partner Martha and their flatmates Tolu and Dolapo in a small South-London council flat. She works illegally as a cleaner in the early hours of the morning while the rest of London sleeps. One day, immigration officers perform a random check-in on Dolapo who is currently seeking asylum. The group hide Nkechi under the bed, but she almost gives herself away with an accidental noise. Despite their suspicions, the officers depart, leaving the four roommates shaken.
  
  For Nkechi this is the final straw. The constant state of fear has been gnawing at her for three years and to Martha’s shock, she has decided to make an official application for asylum at the home office. She loves and wants to stay with Martha, but can’t face living in the shadows any more. Martha is devastated over this choice and leaves. Meanwhile, Dolapo and Tolu give Nkechi advice on how to behave at the immigration agency and warn her that she should avoid any form of confrontation and keep her head down.
  
  Martha returns home and has decided to accept Nkechi’s decision. She wants to celebrate their love in a commitment ceremony that night and gives Nkechi a ring that belonged to her mother. The four friends celebrate, laugh and dance through the night, while Nkechi and Martha forget everything they’re facing and enjoy this blissful fantasy moment.
  
  The next morning, Martha takes Nkechi to the Home Office and waits for her outside. The sun goes down and darkness sets in, but Nkechi still hasn’t come back out. Martha is left facing the reality that her love has been detained.