My Father’s Shadow Review: Tender Portrait of Patriarchal Love Amidst Nigerian Political Turmoil

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Akinola Davies Jr. fondly remembers a childhood in Lagos filled with vibrant culture, but also marked by hardship. The energy of city life – the commerce, playful arguments, and even the scent of wara cheese – existed alongside government repression, corruption, and a pervasive sense of fear. His stunning debut film, which premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, powerfully revisits this conflicting atmosphere, framing it within the context of the 1993 Presidential coup and the resulting emotional turmoil.

For brothers Akinola and Olaremi (played by real-life siblings Godwin and Chibuike Egbo), life is confusing enough. It’s made even stranger when their father, Folarin (Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù), unexpectedly returns. The boys, aged eight and eleven, are playing outside their home, where life is clearly a struggle – evidenced by shared meals and a dilapidated house – when a strong wind brings their father into view. He seems completely unfazed as he gets dressed and looks for his watch, leaving the boys wondering if he’s a ghost.

It’s not exactly true, but after being away for so long, everyone in town acts like he’s a returning hero. Olaremi is happy to be with his father again, but Akinola is doubtful. He struggles to understand how someone who loves their children could be gone for so much time, and no explanation about work or needing money seems to help. He wonders, “Mom says God loves me very much… so does that mean people who love us aren’t around much?”

My Father’s Shadow Frames the Domino Effect of Political Corruption Into the Domestic Space.

The film My Father’s Shadow uses a fragmented style, interspersing scenes with quick shots of everyday things – streets, insects, food, even body parts – mirroring how a child’s attention might wander during a conversation. For the children in the film, reconnecting with their father feels like a wonderful surprise, but it’s overwhelming. Their father also struggles to explain difficult topics like political corruption while simultaneously trying to rebuild their relationship.

The film gently follows Fola as he tries to collect unpaid wages from his employer, only to find his boss is missing. Director Davies Jr. consistently shows the story through the eyes of his young actors, which, while unique, keeps the audience from fully understanding Fola’s struggles and what led him to this situation. Instead, the film is a compelling look at how quickly childhood can be lost, as these kids are forced to grapple with difficult adult issues like infidelity, political upheaval, and financial stability.

The story largely avoids focusing on politics, offering only brief hints of news headlines and radio discussions. Even the father’s political beliefs remain vague. For the children, the most meaningful part of the visit is simply spending extra time with their rarely-seen parent, enjoying shared meals and swimming. However, a sense of unease hangs over everything as everyone waits to see if the existing government will acknowledge the win of the MKO, a populist group.

Instead of the typical story of a distant father, Davies Jr.’s film presents a more nuanced and painful picture: a man whose struggles to achieve financial security prevented him from fully being a dedicated parent. My Father’s Shadow is a surprisingly complex film that connects the hopeful and anxious feelings of a nation entering a new era with the struggles of a family trapped by poverty. It powerfully conveys both heartbreak and love.

My Father’s Shadow opens in select theaters on February 13th, 2026.

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2026-02-10 16:59