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My Father's Shadow

Play trailer 1:59 Poster for My Father's Shadow 2025 1h 34m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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98% Tomatometer 82 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

My Father's Shadow

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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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Tim Cogshell FilmWeek (LAist) 4d
This is an absolutely beautiful and mesmerizing film. Go to Full Review Jacob Oller AV Club Feb 13
B+
The story two brothers tell themselves about their father, and about their childhood in Nigeria, My Father’s Shadow is as well-loved and well-worn as a lucky charm. Go to Full Review Alissa Wilkinson New York Times Feb 12
It’s that sharp contrast of beauty with an undercurrent of pain that makes “My Father’s Shadow” so bittersweet, and it’s why it cuts to the quick. Go to Full Review Beandrea July FilmWeek (LAist) 4d
Tender and sweet. Go to Full Review Sarah Vincent Sarah G Vincent Views May 3
feels like a cinematic scrapbook of fractured memories told from children’s perspective, but retroactively this autofiction film will feel like a ghost story Go to Full Review Diego Batlle Otroscines.com May 1
4/5
The intense and powerful mise-en-scène...and the excellent performances by the three leads make My Father's Shadow one of the finest debut films African cinema has produced in recent times. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Nicholas T. @TaylorNC17 3d Hard to muster the words after seeing… a beautiful and poetic meditation on life, family and freedom, profound in its simplicity. See more Jamey M @Unicycle6869 Apr 28 I thought it was boring tbh. See more Ephraim C @EphraimCobb27 Mar 25 A very touching film amidst a tumultuous backdrop. See more Catherine Imogen W @RT67840195 Mar 15 I was very impressed and nearly in tears by the end. The father needs to work in Lagos during military rule. He appears to have taken part in a demonstration at Bonny Camp and to have been seriously injured - the military deny any casualties but in the last resort say "it cannot be him, nobody survived." Ok and the story is about the lovely last day his two little sons had with him in Lagos. Finally the tragedy unravels. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Mar 7 The worldwide gross is $1,000,000.00, less than the budget of $3,400,000.00. See more Moody C @MoodyC Feb 19 I was bored. Not really sure message here besides documenting moments in time of a tumultuous government in Nigeria. No focused storytelling here. No real conflict other than chaotic ending with people revolting govt for lying about election. There were some moments of genius at beach & night drive towards end but these are just artistic beats devoid of context or story. I believe director is trying too hard on visual & audio blemishes to make this look analog to give it an old, documentarian feel. See more 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
Box Office (Gross USA)
$105.9K
Runtime
1h 34m