Nigeria made a strong entry at the Cannes Film Festival with “ My Father’s Shadow” by British-Nigerian writer-director Akinola Davies Jr. Nigeria’s first ever Cannes official selection, the film will be competing in the highly respected Un Certain Regard category. It is a deeply personal, semi-autobiographical tale that explores themes of masculinity, family and identity.
Directed against a backdrop of a day in 1993 Lagos, My Father’s Shadow is about two young brothers, real-life siblings Godwin and Chibuike Egbo, whose estranged father Sope Dirisu shows up unexpectedly. The father sets out to retrieve outstanding wages in the face of Nigeria’s repressive political climate after the cancelled first elections of a decade of military rule.
Davies Jr. says that the movie is not just his own family’s history but also larger concepts of masculinity and the delicate nature of fatherhood. The movie documents the complicated relationship of the boys with their charming but imperfect father. Scenes of them traveling through Lagos with roadblocks like a fuelless bus and an unruly city on the brink gives you a physical and emotional moment.
Keep Reading
The film has been well-received by critics, with its subtlety and emotional resonance praised. The Guardian described it as a “subtle and intelligent coming-of-age tale,” while IndieWire called it a “beautifully remembered drama.” Mubi has acquired the film for distribution.
Dirisu, speaking about his performance stated the project challenged him to go in-depth into the meaning of fatherhood and what it is to be Nigerian. Davies also hopes My Father’s Shadow will pave the way for more African stories to be heard on international platforms such as Cannes bringing to the forefront powerful stories waiting to be shared.
This powerful film provides a deeply personal, poignant exploration of family, identity and the tensions that define masculinity in the context of a momentous event in Nigerian history.
