My Father's Shadow
The film 'My Father's Shadow,' directed by Akinola Davies, Jr., explores the complex relationship between an absentee father and his two sons during a transformative day trip to Lagos. The film has received critical acclaim, including a Caméra d’Or special mention at Cannes.
Why it matters
Represents the growing global recognition of Nigerian cinema and the importance of authentic, autobiographical storytelling in international film.
Directed by British-Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies, Jr. from a screenplay he wrote with his brother Wale Davies, this impressive first feature recounts how an absentee dad impulsively takes his 11-year-old Akin and his 8-year-old Rémi on a daytrip to the big city of Lagos. It is a day that will change their family forever.
After bowing at Cannes in Un Certain Regard last year as the first-ever Nigerian film in the official selection (and, no small feat, where it won the Caméra d’Or — Special Mention), the film was the U.K.’s Oscar submission for best international feature and a big BAFTA winner. Its latest appearance is in Amman’s Non-Arab Feature Competition.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in