MY FATHER'S SHADOW
Starring: Sopé Dìrísù, Godwin Egbo, and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo
Director: Akinola Davies Jr.
ADRIANO
Operating on a similar logic to Aftersun, My Father's Shadow's depiction of Lagos in 1993 under political turmoil, as well as fatherhood through the unaware eyes of children, is a memorable and even heartbreaking examination. Director/co-writer Akinola Davies Jr.'s direction is precise but, by design, rusty. Our perspective is through the kids, so the limited information enhances the beauty and horror of the plot. Sopé Dìrísù's performance blends masculinity with tenderness perfectly, and the child performances from Chibuike Marvellous Egbo and Godwin Egbo are great as well. By the end, it made me cry and reflect, the hallmark of a job well done.
AMARÚ
My Father’s Shadow is a strong feature debut for director Akinola Davies Jr. It’s powerful in its messaging of fatherhood, brotherhood, and sacrifice, with a grittiness to Davies’ camera work that brings a gripping authenticity, all anchored by Sopé Dìrísù’s vulnerable performance. There’s a scene between father and son that is so raw and real that it will stay with me for a long time. These deeply felt themes of family, community, and legacy help stave off small instances of stagnancy, and help bolster hope in the midst of unjust tyranny. This one hits at your heart’s core.
BODE
With My Father’s Shadow, director Akinola Davies Jr. and co-writer Wale Davies pull from their childhoods to explore multi-generational masculinity against the social unrest that surrounded Nigeria in 1993. It’s an examination that manages to somehow feel simultaneously epic and intimate. The personal, the political, the dreamlike, and the realistic hazily blend together in lovely and heartbreaking ways that nearly had me tearing up at various points (especially as someone of Nigerian heritage). It certainly helps that Sopé Dìrísù is excellent as the titular father, and the score from composers Duval Timothy and CJ Mirra is soul-stirring. A remarkable directorial feature debut.
This film was reviewed by Adriano as part of Bitesize Breakdown's coverage of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.