Lagos-based filmmaker Ugochukwu Azuya tackles urban alienation in new social class satire film.

Nigerian director Ugochukwu Azuya's latest project 'I Live in V.I.' is a social class satire that explores the challenges of urban alienation and gentrification in Lagos, Africa's most populous city.

Inspiration from Personal Experiences

Azuya's inspiration for the film comes from his personal experiences living in Lagos and witnessing the mechanisms of life in this materialistically driven, very classist society. The story is also borne of his encounters with young people, mostly women, who share similar working-class backgrounds.

The film follows Florence, a young woman who leaves her small town to start a new job in the hospitality industry in Lagos. However, she soon discovers that the city is not what it promised to be, and she must navigate the harsh realities of urban alienation and gentrification.

With its unique blend of surrealism and social commentary, 'I Live in V.I.' explores the lost hope of the Nigerian dream and the ways in which society constructs our psyche both as individuals and as a collective. The film is a powerful exploration of the human condition, set against the vibrant backdrop of Lagos, Africa's most populous city.