By Tunde Reelz, Lagos Based Movie Critic.
February 22, 2026
Wetin dey sup, Naija movie lovers? Picture this: 1993 Lagos, air thick with tear gas and humidity, sirens wailing like juju spirits, two small boys clutching their daddy's hands as riots erupt over the stolen June 12 elections. One wrong turn, and a father's shadow swallows them whole. Can a man's legacy eclipse a nation's scars? My Father's Shadow (2025, dir. Akinola Davies Jr.) doesn't just ask—it rips your chest open.
This Nollywood gem snagged a Cannes Special Mention for Caméra d'Or and a 2026 BAFTA nod, putting Nigerian cinema on the world map. Sope Dirisu slays as the flawed dad, real-life bros Chiemerie and ibui Marvell Egbo Godwin bring sibling fire. No spoilers, but if you're in Lagos, rush Silverbird Cinemas or Mubi now. This is Nollywood evolving—raw, real, revolutionary. Let's dive deep.
The dust has finally settled in Cannes, and the verdict is unanimous: Nollywood has entered a new dimension. When Akinola Davies Jr. stepped onto the Croisette with My Father’s Shadow, he wasn’t just premiering a film; he was reclaiming a lost aesthetic of Nigerian history.
This isn't your typical Lagos "glam-com" filled with white Ferraris and Lekki penthouses. Instead, My Father’s Shadow is a haunting, grainy, 16mm love letter to 1993—a year burned into the Nigerian psyche. It is a film about the weight of a name, the fragility of a nation, and the silent, towering presence of a father who is losing his grip on both.
The 16mm Soul: Why the Visuals Matter
Most modern Nollywood films suffer from "digital sterility"—they are too bright, too crisp, and feel like high-definition commercials. Davies Jr. rejects this. By shooting on 16mm film, he captures the "golden hour" of Lagos with a tactile, organic warmth.
The grain on the screen mirrors the dust of the rural roads and the exhaust fumes of the Danfo buses. It feels like a recovered memory, making the 1993 setting feel lived-in rather than staged. This visual choice elevates the film from a mere story to a sensory experience.
Character Deep Dive: The Triad of Trauma and Hope
Folarin (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù): The Flawed Anchor
Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù delivers a career-defining performance. Folarin is a man of the Nigerian middle class who has been betrayed by the system. He isn't a "bad" father, but he is a distracted one. Dìrísù plays him with a simmering quietness—you can see the mental arithmetic he’s doing, calculating how to provide for his family as the Naira devalues in real-time.
Akin and Remi (The Egbo Brothers): The Eyes of Innocence
The decision to cast real-life brothers was a stroke of genius. Their chemistry is effortless. Through their eyes, the chaos of 1993 Lagos isn't a political crisis; it’s an adventure. Their wonder balances the film’s heavier themes of military oppression.
The 24-Hour Odyssey: Step-by-Step Scene Breakdown
Phase 1: The Departure (The Rural Silence)
The film opens in a village outside Lagos. The pace is slow, mimicking the stagnant nature of the boys' lives while their father is away working. When Folarin arrives, the atmosphere shifts. There is an urgent, whispered conversation between him and their mother. The tension is set: they are leaving, and they are leaving now.
Phase 2: The Journey (The Road to Lagos)
As they travel toward the city, the landscape changes. We see the transition from green vistas to the concrete grit of the city. A pivotal scene occurs at a military checkpoint. Here, the "Shadow" of the title is literal—the shadow of a soldier’s rifle falls across the boys' faces in the backseat. Folarin’s forced smile to the soldiers is a heartbreaking masterclass in the performance of survival.
Phase 3: The Search for the Unpaid Wage
The heart of the film takes place in the corridors of a crumbling government bureau. Folarin is trying to collect months of back pay. We see the bureaucracy of 1993—piles of paper, fans that don't spin, and the indifference of clerks. The boys wander the halls, treating the decay like a playground, oblivious to the fact that their father’s dignity is being stripped away in the next room.
Phase 4: The Night in Lagos (The Fever Dream)
Lagos at night in this film is electric. It’s neon, it’s dangerous, and it’s beautiful. Folarin takes the boys to a bar where highlife music plays. For a moment, the political tension of the June 12 election vanishes. They eat, they laugh, and Folarin is the hero they think he is. But the night ends with the distant sound of sirens—a reminder that the "Shadow" is never far away.
The June 12 Subtext: A Silent Antagonist
For Nigerians, 1993 is synonymous with the annulled election of MKO Abiola. The film handles this brilliantly by never showing the politicians. Instead, we see the election’s effect on the "common man." We see it in the hushed radio broadcasts and the way people look at each other on the street. The election is the "Shadow" over the entire country—a promise of light that is slowly being extinguished.
Nollywood’s "Slow Cinema" Revolution
We are witnessing the birth of Prestige Nollywood. While the industry has thrived on high-energy comedies, My Father’s Shadow proves that Nigerian audiences (and global ones) are hungry for "slow cinema." It allows for silence. It allows the camera to linger on a character's face for ten seconds too long, forcing the viewer to feel the discomfort and the beauty of the moment.
The Verdict: Is It Worth the Watch?
My Father’s Shadow is a triumph of restraint. It doesn't shout; it whispers, and that makes its message much louder. It challenges the viewer to look at their own fathers—and their own countries—with a more empathetic, albeit critical, eye.
• Acting: 5/5
• Cinematography: 5/5
• Story: 4.5/5
• Cultural Impact: 10/10
The Star Rating: … 5/5 Stars
Don't Miss This Milestone
You cannot call yourself a fan of modern cinema if you skip this film. It is more than a movie; it is a historical document wrapped in a family drama. Whether you are in Lagos, London, or New York, the themes of fatherhood and the struggle for dignity are universal.
Go see My Father’s Shadow. Support the new era of African storytelling.
Have you seen the film yet? What did you think of the ending? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
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