Just a Scar (2023), film still

Just a Scar

2023 • International Documentaries
Filmmaker: Joy Amwe-Bulus

About this Short Film

#Achievement #Adult #Individual #Medical Disability #Physical Disability #Poet #Rickets

Joy Amwe-Bulus's Just a Scar (Nigeria, 2023) examines ideas of achievement, identity and the marks life leaves behind. The short reflects on physical and medical disability, including rickets, and the ways adults navigate personal and public perceptions. Shot with an attentive eye, it sits within the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival as a piece that highlights individual strength and creative expression. Viewers can expect a thoughtful, human portrait that invites reflection rather than answers. A quietly powerful contribution, it honours resilience and the varied meanings of a scar within the context of disability and personal accomplishment.

Film Details

Country: Nigeria
Category: International Documentaries
Genre: Personal Story
Festival Year: 2023
Filmmaker: Joy Amwe-Bulus

Film Transcript

My name is Jonathan Oluwatosin Onyipere, commonly known as Omoara, I like to say I'm the one that they told you will never end, like a proton I like to stay positive and the only time you ever find me looking down is when I'm wearing my shoes, I'm a poet, preacher and a very sweet guy. Jonathan is the sixth in the family. At birth he had a small sore on his upper backbone. At age two it was discovered that he had rickets, meaning the curvature of the backbone. I remember my teacher telling me I should actually not be schooling, I should just go and rest at home and be taken care of and I'm like, dude, not me, not me. Jonathan is my very good friend, Jonathan is a fighter and Jonathan is a survivor. I'll get into a place and then the whole room is expecting me to go and sit down in one corner so that they can pity me, have me like me and I'll just start, just go around the room and greet everybody, shake their hand, talk, I'll start the conversation. So the very quiet room becomes light when I enter and I found my voice, I found my voice through talking, I found my voice through my writing also. My writing came at a stage where, because I loved my secondary school, yes, and it came and gave me, it gave me more, I got to read my poetry. So far I've been able to author a poetry collection, I tend to be one of the spokesmen and it was a collection of 42 poems. Poems that started from the day I started writing to up to like 20s, I won a couple of prizes, I've gotten a few honorariums for writing. For no reason would I be so grateful to be behind, I'm always ready to be out there, I'm always ready to be in charge, I love being in charge, I love being leadership positions, it helps me know that okay if they can do it, I can do it and if I'm allowed to do it then that's equality for me. Thank God that Jonathan is doing well and coping fine, he's a trailblazer and achiever who is ambitious. I have never given up and I don't plan on starting now. Every Scar I bear is a dream conceived, waiting to be delivered. I see my reflection, my uneven body and I'm grateful that I'm still alive, still two halves of a man, yet now more one than I have ever been. My body is a valentine's day present wrapped in a birthday paper, it's a well-thought-out gift in improper packaging. My body is beautiful, is beautiful, is beautiful.

Filmmaker

Joy Amwe-Bulus is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Joy Amwe-Bulus.

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33 comments
M
Mo the Sun-kissed Poet 11/11/2023

Omo-Ara

E
Ebube Esther 18/08/2023

Weldone omo ara

S
Susan Keyshia Garba 14/08/2023

Beautiful piece joyvery inspiring

P
Powerful Pel 14/08/2023

Youre amazing Omo Ara

F
Franklin Chibuike 14/08/2023

An educative and inspiring movie more grace to you sir

I
Ibrahim Mukthar 14/08/2023

This is epic...

A
Ando Ogar 14/08/2023

Very inspiring

D
David Olowodun 14/08/2023

Awesome drama

Y
Yomi Dele 14/08/2023

In my friends voice very inspiring. The Beautiful Beginning is it.

N
Ngbede Odeh 14/08/2023

An interesting movie

R
Rita Luka 13/08/2023

Absolutely inspiring.

G
Gift Maduakor 12/08/2023

Its a very interesting film...

O
Oladunni Akanke Onipe 12/08/2023

Keep Soaring More Wins .

M
Mohammed Yusuf 12/08/2023

Amazing

I
Innocent Elisha 12/08/2023

I have always known you to be a fighter and cheerleader. You're doing great Sir

E
Edwin Ali Eze 11/08/2023

Mind blowing ideas

O
Ohunene Onipe 11/08/2023

Wow You are truly a wonder that never ends Keep soaring

L
Lizzy OA 11/08/2023

Keep being amazing Bro

S
Sewa Kayode 11/08/2023

Love it

C
Chinatu Orji 11/08/2023

There is so much glory in your story and there's no stopping now

C
Cynthia Bassey 11/08/2023

All the best man

M
Moses Odeh 10/08/2023

This is the best thing I've seen this week brother. High hopes sir.

C
Chioma Emmanuel 10/08/2023

This is really amazing I feel inspired myself. Thank you for this.

W
Wilisi Ose 10/08/2023

Very impressive. I've been following your work this is very good and I love it Joy. Weldone.

E
Esther Bassey 9/08/2023

Go for the win Bulus.

L
Luving Du Sai 9/08/2023

This is an inspiring story Well done Joy

A
Ahmed Abdullahi 9/08/2023

Beautiful weldone Joy

M
Michael OA 9/08/2023

We are all earth. Inspiring.

M
Merriells Shallady 8/08/2023

Go SisiWe love you

F
Folasade ibrahim 8/08/2023

This is a deep emotional film. Kudos to the director

R
Rachel Joy Samndi 8/08/2023

This is really beautiful well done joy

A
Ann Bulus 8/08/2023

This is inspirational Nothing should limit you

J
Joy Bulus 8/08/2023

Im so happy to have this beautiful work of art here and please vote for your film. Thank you

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