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My Father's Shadow

Play trailer 1:59 Poster for My Father's Shadow Now Playing 1h 34m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 32 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
The UK's Best International Feature Film entry to the 98th Academy Awards® and recipient of the Caméra d'Or Special Mention at Cannes, Akinola Davis Jr.'s MY FATHER'S SHADOW is a poetic, tender portrait of father-son bonds. Framed by the political landscape of 1993 Lagos, the film follows a father and his two young sons as they journey into and around the vibrantly rendered Nigerian metropolis, quietly reckoning with their relationship while navigating a city on the precipice of democratic crisis. Brothers and collaborators Akinola Davis Jr. and Wale Davies bring us a groundbreaking feature debut -- centering an award-winning performance by Sopé Dìrísù (Slow Horses, Gangs of London) -- that reveals the profound depths of what families leave unspoken.
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My Father's Shadow

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Weaving high-stakes political commentary with rich personal dynamics that are bolstered by Sope Dirisu's commanding performance, My Father's Shadow casts a highly promising light on feature-debut director Akinola Davies' future.

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Critics Reviews

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Dwight Brown DwightBrownInk.com Oct 13
4/4
A meditation on fatherhood, political strife and the frailty of life. Touching beyond words. Go to Full Review Tomris Laffly Elle Jun 10
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. Go to Full Review Lovia Gyarkye The Hollywood Reporter May 20
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. Go to Full Review Rich Cline Shadows on the Wall 5d
4/5
It's a warm, involving odyssey that's so authentic that it almost feels like a collection of home movies. Go to Full Review Pedro Paunero EscribiendoCine Dec 9
9/10
The question of what it means to sustain a family amidst such instability places the film within a broader conversation about patriarchal structures and how political transformations erode personal certainties. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Frank J. Avella The Contending Nov 22
A-
My Father’s Shadow is both a wonderful tribute to a loving father and a frightening warning about the insidious nature of authoritarianism. Go to 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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My Father's Shadow

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Movie Info

Synopsis The UK's Best International Feature Film entry to the 98th Academy Awards® and recipient of the Caméra d'Or Special Mention at Cannes, Akinola Davis Jr.'s MY FATHER'S SHADOW is a poetic, tender portrait of father-son bonds. Framed by the political landscape of 1993 Lagos, the film follows a father and his two young sons as they journey into and around the vibrantly rendered Nigerian metropolis, quietly reckoning with their relationship while navigating a city on the precipice of democratic crisis. Brothers and collaborators Akinola Davis Jr. and Wale Davies bring us a groundbreaking feature debut -- centering an award-winning performance by Sopé Dìrísù (Slow Horses, Gangs of London) -- that reveals the profound depths of what families leave unspoken.
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