Far from Home

Ladies and gentlemen, we are live at the grand opening

of Ishaya Bello's first art exhibition.

Thank you.

Thank you all for coming.

Who would have thought that the dreams of a young boy...

...from Lagos Island would become this?

I always dreamt of being an artist, of being Essien,

and I got a chance to work with him as an apprentice in London,

and, boy, he changed my life.

Thank you, Essien.

- - Thank you.

Also I'd like to thank my friends.

Ishaya.

Ishaya, wake up!

You're late for work. Mum is waiting outside. She's very angry.

Shit.

-Shit, shit, shit! -

Ishaya, we are already late.

Will you stop dragging your feet?

Right.

Hello.

Who are you again?

I'm the cleaner, sir.

Madam Patricia's son.

Oh.

Okay.

Sister, fine drawing for your wall, ma, for your wall.

-I painted it myself, it's original. Ma! - I don't want.

Mama, do you like paintings?

Mama, painting for your fine wall in your house.

I painted it by myself, ma. It's a fine work.

Sir, you can buy this drawing. I drew it myself.

It's original work from me, sir! Sir!

Sir! Daddy, help me now.

Why are you so eager to sell your art?

I need money quickly.

Money for what?

Ishaya.

What's going on?

Nothing.

Have you got someone pregnant?

You'll get someone pregnant, idiot.

Okay, talk to me, what's going on?

Tell me.

You know that...

That artist from London?

Essien, your role model.

Essien. He has this art fellowship...

to study with him for six months.

I applied.

You applied?

He picked me.

- Yeah? -I swear.

He actually picked me.

Don't lie. Let me see your face. You're lying.

Why would I lie?

I said he picked... Come see the video.

No way.

Dear Ishaya, if you're watching this video...

Look.

...then congratulations.

You have been selected as one of my apprentices in London.

You'll get the required training, expertise,

and exposure to start your career

on the global stage.

Wow, my guy, you did it!

-How come you didn't tell me? -Shh! Quiet.

-You're traveling to London? -That's what I'm trying to arrange.

Before you say "Jack Robinson," you'll be in London sipping tea with the Queen.

Jack Robinson. Jack Robinson. Am I in London now?

Calm down. You'll go to London.

My clients will buy your artwork.

- Upfront. -Upfront. Before!

Let me take a bath and get ready for Rahila's birthday party.

-What? - Shit, I haven't bought the cake.

-What? - Shit, shit, shit.

This guy...

- What are you doing here? -Go and sit down.

Okay?

Rahila, your cake is here.

- Babe! - Happy birthday!

Hi! Wait till you see what I got.

I bought it for Rahila.

- What is this? -Come on, Ishaya.

It's trendy.

So she will attract friends.

I don't want these for her, looks like clothes for a prostitute.

-It's not bad, I like it. -I know you'll like this. Naughty!

- Thank you. -

Good day sir.

Let's play.

All right, come and eat.

Are you OK? Want to go to the bedroom?

Rahila, your dream school advert is on.

At Wilmer Academy,

we are all about giving back to the society that raised us.

Do you want to win a scholarship to the most prestigious School in Nigeria?

For those of you who want to come to Wilmer Academy, here's your chance.

Come to the Wilmer Academy Open Day and register for the scholarship exam,

and maybe you'll be the...

Hey, now, Mummy, I was watching it!

Don't waste your time. Attending that school is a futile dream.

You hear me?

My dear daughter, today's your birthday, hmm?

Let's be merry.

Did you hear? Don't frown.

Go and eat.

Birthday girl.

Smile. That looks...

Thank you.

You know I can't draw your dream every day.

Chase it now so you don't regret it later.

My dreams are too expensive. Plus, I don't even think I belong there.

Unrealistic dreams are destructive.

-Know what I think? -What?

Tomorrow is their Open Day, right?

- Go there. -Hmm?

Register for the scholarship exam. I mean, you never know.

Mmm-mmm.

Shame.

Will you follow me?

I'm busy, please.

Please, now.

Look, I'm too busy following my own dreams.

Did you hear?

Okay, I'll follow you.

["Triumphant" by Olamide ft. Bella Shmurda playing]

Don't you have a shirt? Why are you wearing that shirt?

Tsk.

Are you now ashamed of where Lagos Island?

Let's go.

Please leave me alone.

- -

- - Lala!

Gutter trash who've never seen wealth before.

Riff-raff. Drive on.

Just look at them. Rubbish.

Didn't I tell you not to wear this shirt?

Welcome.

I'd like to sign up for the scholarship exam.

Fill this form.

Pay the registration fee of 150,000 naira.

150,000?

For a scholarship exam?

The entry exam is not free.

But it is a scholarship.

Don't you want to give it to someone that can't actually afford to pay?

Can she write the exam now and pay for it later when she gets the scholarship?

This is Wilmer Academy...

...not Lagos Island Secondary School.

It's fine, Lala. Let's go.

Let's go.

You look absolutely ravishing.

Your smile lights up the entire room.

- Please, sit down. -Thank you.

Dreaming is destructive.

My dreams are unrealistic.

Lala, that doesn't even make sense.

No, look at Daddy.

Dad wanting to be a famous artist lost us our brother.

Now he's in pain every time.

Maybe Daddy will actually stop being in pain

if he starts doing what he loves, just painting.

That's why, me, I'm chasing my dream.

Lala, just because you can't get into Wilmer

doesn't mean you can't be the neuro...

whatever doctor you decide you want to be.

Wilmer is not the only school in Lagos.

It's neurosurgeon.

You shut up your dirty mouth.

["Blessings" by Niphkeys and Zinoleesky playing loudly]

Go, go, go!

What did he do?

He broke my number-one rule.

Got high on my supply.

That's a serious offense.

Baido, feed him to Angel.

Baido, feed him to Angel.

Joe.

Sir, um...

The weed is selling, but...

this medicine is not.

Molly or ecstasy, Joe.

You need to know the name.

Ijoba, Rush is our business.

Why are you selling pills?

We need to diversify.