Go Fund Me

Go Fund Me is as grass-roots as they come, an ambitious project from filmmaker B-E-Z which has more misses than hits, but still manages to engage, entertain, and outperform a lower budget. It is a testament to filmmaking passion and creativity even when there are rough edges all over the place.

The story follows Kaspa (Itumeleng Moruakgo), a gang member who has big dreams of breaking away from the streets to start a clothing empire. He confesses to his friend F1 (Kesi Nwogwugwu) that he is getting close to his dream, and with one last job for local kingpin Roman (Kay Abel) he should have enough to start chasing it. But Roman is not willing to let the pair leave so easily, and concocts a plan to indebt them for life…

It should be said up front that Go Fund Me is a seriously flawed film. It’s filled with editing mishaps, errors in the sound design, repetitive and empty dialogue, plot holes and a bizarre, convenient and underwhelming resolution. Some of these such as the issues with sound levels are forgivable given the production levels of the film (if not any less distracting), but others are the result of an underbaked script that is formed from a solid base but loses itself when the conflict between Kaspa and Roman amps up.

Yet despite flaws, there are still admirable qualities that the film demonstrates. Kaspa’s story and dream forms a solid connection with the viewer. B-E-Z spends enough time validating his protagonist’s personality and life story to make audiences want to back him, and scenes in which we see Kaspa facing pushback from investors create a sympathetic bond – especially when he refuses to give up. The film has some genuinely funny moments as well, particularly between Kaspa and F1 when they realise the danger they have gotten themselves into, and from the eccentricity of gang boss Roman.

There is empathy at the heart of Itumeleng Moruakgo’s performance as Kaspa – who convinces as a reluctant gang member who wants to lead a straight life. Kay Abel also taps in to an unhinged nature to bring Roman to life – easily the biggest personality in the film and a character that demands eyeballs when he is on screen. Almost all of the cast have their slips however and there are a few too many times when the emotional drive isn’t really present, even in scenes of great tension or danger such as a conversation before a planned murder or a pivotal sequence in a restaurant where the fate of the cast is decided.

The homemade quality of Go Fund Me is both a strength and a weakness. The film’s flaws are particularly evident and significantly detract from the overall result, damaging audience immersion and undermining the emotional drivers of the story. However it is important to note that the emotion is still there – which is more than can be said of many a film with greater resources. The filmmakers deserve credit for working with what they have to produce a 30-minute story that connects in enough ways to leave an impression. The suggested sequel (given the film’s conclusion) will hopefully receive a little more refinement, as it is clear that the ability to tell a story and build characters is present in those who brought Kaspa’s story to life.