My father’s shadow is a critically acclaimed, BAFTA award-winning, semi-autobiographical feature debut movie.
My father’s shadow unfolded in June 1993, a chaotic period in Nigeria following the annulment of the presidential elections.
It centers on Folarin, a working-class, often-absent father.
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Two brothers, Remi and Akin, were playing in a house when they unexpectedly ran into their father, Folarin. The youngest son, Akin, begs for Folarin to spend more time with them, he agrees to bring them along to his work in Lagos. They board a minibus but it soon runs out of fuel, and they are forced to hitchhike the rest of the way to Lagos. Folarin introduces his sons to his workplace, where it is revealed he had not been paid for six months. After a colleague tells him that their manager should be back by nightfall, Folarin resolves to stick around Lagos with his children until then.
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Walking the city streets, Folarin and the children notice the persistent presence of the military. They do various activities together, visiting an amusement park, enjoying street food and swimming at the beach. Throughout the day, Folarin suffers from nosebleeds.
He bonds with his children, teaching them the value of fraternal love and explaining that in his childhood, his own brother died from drowning. Following his brother’s death, Folarin kept seeing visions of his brother’s restless spirit, which eventually subsided when Folarin named his son Remi after his brother.
In the evening, Folarin returns to his workplace, where the manager has still not shown up. The military announced that they annulled the election, and chaos ensued as the people angrily took to the streets.
Folarin flees the scene with his sons and tries to bring them back home, but they are stopped by an aggressive soldier who claims to recognize Folarin from a violent incident from the previous week. Folarin’s nose bleeds heavily and they are eventually allowed to pass.
Some time later, Folarin has died, Remi, Akin and their mother attend his funeral.
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My father’s shadow is an enchanting film, at every moment one feels spellbound by its earnest aims and its heartwarming excursions. The film paints a moving, bittersweet picture of hope, longing, loss and closure.
The plot ends up hinging on some strange coincidences, and the ending perhaps withholds a little too much detail for its own good.
Directed by: Akinola Davies Jr
Cast: Sope Dirisu, Chibuike Marvellous Egbo, Godwin Chiemerie Egbo, Uzoamaka Power, Efon Wini
Running time: 93 minutes
Watch trailer here:
