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My Father's Shadow

Play trailer Poster for My Father's Shadow Nov 2025 1h 34m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 30 Reviews Popcornmeter 0 Ratings
A semi-autobiographical tale set over the course of a single day in the Nigerian metropolis Lagos during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis. The story follows a father, estranged from his two young sons, as they travel through the massive city while political unrest threatens their journey home.

Critics Reviews

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Dwight Brown DwightBrownInk.com A meditation on fatherhood, political strife and the frailty of life. Touching beyond words. Rated: 4/4 Oct 13, 2025 Full Review Tomris Laffly Elle A multilayered portrayal of Black masculinity, both adoringly seen through the eyes of the film’s young characters and carried with poetic poise by Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù. Jun 10, 2025 Full Review Lovia Gyarkye The Hollywood Reporter The best moments of My Father’s Shadow are the stolen ones between Folarian and his sons. While there is some overly sentimental exposition in these encounters, they are easy to forgive because of the restrained performances and gentle visuals. May 20, 2025 Full Review Frank J. Avella The Contending My Father’s Shadow is both a wonderful tribute to a loving father and a frightening warning about the insidious nature of authoritarianism. Rated: A- Nov 22, 2025 Full Review Stephen Silver The SS Ben Hecht The key is that the story is being told from a child's-eye view, with high-angle shots, as it’s clearly demonstrated that the boys don’t know the particulars of the political stuff- only that they miss their dad. Oct 24, 2025 Full Review Daniel Allen In Review Online A remarkable film and a special debut. Oct 20, 2025 Full Review Read all reviews
My Father's Shadow

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Cast & Crew

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Akinola Davies

Director

Sope Dirisu

Folarin

Godwin Egbo

Actor

Chibuike Marvellous Egbo

Actor

Efon Wini

Bola

Wale Davies

Writer
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My Father's Shadow

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Movie Info

Synopsis A semi-autobiographical tale set over the course of a single day in the Nigerian metropolis Lagos during the 1993 Nigerian election crisis. The story follows a father, estranged from his two young sons, as they travel through the massive city while political unrest threatens their journey home.
Director
Akinola Davies
Producer
Rachel Dargavel, Funmbi Ogunbanwo
Screenwriter
Wale Davies, Akinola Davies
Distributor
MUBI
Production Co
British Film Institute, BBC Film
Genre
Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 21, 2025, Limited
Runtime
1h 34m