Exploring the Conflict between the Desire to Tell a Story and Ethical Representation
—A Case Study of Films “Farming” and “Rise”

Film is a form of art that presents different concepts and perspectives to a wider audience thus can be considered a form of education and impact on shaping opinions amongst viewers. This research paper focuses on the problem of presenting stereotypes, misleading concepts, and unethical representations in film leading to bias and prejudice among audiences. This academic research report examines two case studies of films “Rise” (2022) and “Farming” (2018) showing contrasting representations of Nigerian diasporic experience. Ten Nigerian participants were asked to watch case studies and answer a questionnaire about the representation of Nigerians in the films. The major findings show that subjectivity and a misleading portrayal of people were considered hurtful and unethical, and left viewers angry. Participants did not agree with the representation of their cultural heritage in one film but were proud to see a positive image in another. The outcome of the study proves that filmmakers should balance the ethical representations in the film with the storyline and consider the audiences in the creative process to avoid unethical practices. The study proposes various solutions to the unethical representation of people in cinema based on the interview with a Nigerian PhD Film and Media Studies student, a master class from Aesthetica Short Film Festival, and academic resources. The study is of interest to filmmakers who want to maintain ethical representation in their works.