February 15, 2026
FILM: MY FATHER’S SHADOW
DIRECTED BY: AKINOLA DAVIES
STARRING: SOPE DIRISU, GODWIN EGBO, CHIBUIKE MARVELOUS EGBO
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Two days ago, I posted a video I made about my father who passed away when I was very young. I didn’t know him well, outside of the stories told about him and the home movies my mother made, so it’s taken much of my own lifetime to really understand who he really was. In the new film My Father’s Shadow, Folarin is a loving and devoted Nigerian father, seen from the perspective of his two young sons, who is caught in political unrest during his country’s 1993 elections. Does it help to know something about Nigeria then vs now? Perhaps, but the primary takeaway from My Father’s Shadow is how two boys see and try to understand their father and how he attempts to show them love during their brief time together.
Sope Dirisu plays Folarin who is often working away from the family. When he tells the boys, Aki and Remi, that he must go to the city of Lagos to pick up his salary, they insist on going with him. As they head off, it is clear that they embrace this time alone with their father and enjoy being a part of the adventure with him. While in the city they get a chance to experience all its glory and chaos. Folarin even takes them to one of his favorite sites, a closed amusement park where they are allowed to run free and enjoy the rides. Soon though, the various hardships associated with the city and Folarin’s life come further into view. There are long lines for gas, people are fighting in the streets, money is scarce, greed is in the air, and a contentious political election is taking place.
Director Akinola Davies doesn’t depict all of this with a sense of doom and gloom. Folarin maintains hope that things will get better. There is also plenty of God talk among some of the more extreme members of the society and Folarin is full of wisdom to impart to the boys. The best parts of the film involve the bonding between them on a beach. The scene is reminiscent of Mahershala Ali’s big scene with young “Little” in the Oscar-winning film, Moonlight. The discussions and lessons Folarin attempts to instill are filled with realism and heart. The dialogue is almost lyrical in its style and delivery.
Still, there is plenty of anger and fighting in the streets which disrupts these quieter moments and creates an air of chaos for the boys trying to remain connected to their father. The young boys playing them are real-life brothers who demonstrate solid love as well as the occasional sibling rivalry that can be so common between boys near the same age.
Sope Dirisu is very good as Folarin demonstrating love and devotion to the boys while also expressing anger toward the governmental situation. While some of the details surrounding the latter and its history aren’t entirely clear, they do come from the perspective of young boys trying to make sense of it. We see their point of view.
My Father’s Shadow was selected by the U.K. as its submission for the Best International Film Oscar this year. It didn’t have much of a chance since most of the film features characters speaking English. Still, we are always placed in the mix of quiet moments and the frenetic energy of others that make this feel like a truly immersive cultural experience. It’s also a very good father story.
My Father’s Shadow is currently playing in limited theatrical release, including the Gene Siskel Center in Chicago.
FILM: MY FATHER’S SHADOW
DIRECTED BY: AKINOLA DAVIES
STARRING: SOPE DIRISU, GODWIN EGBO, CHIBUIKE MARVELOUS EGBO
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Two days ago, I posted a video I made about my father who passed away when I was very young. I didn’t know him well, outside of the stories told about him and the home movies my mother made, so it’s taken much of my own lifetime to really understand who he really was. In the new film My Father’s Shadow, Folarin is a loving and devoted Nigerian father, seen from the perspective of his two young sons, who is caught in political unrest during his country’s 1993 elections. Does it help to know something about Nigeria then vs now? Perhaps, but the primary takeaway from My Father’s Shadow is how two boys see and try to understand their father and how he attempts to show them love during their brief time together.
Sope Dirisu plays Folarin who is often working away from the family. When he tells the boys, Aki and Remi, that he must go to the city of Lagos to pick up his salary, they insist on going with him. As they head off, it is clear that they embrace this time alone with their father and enjoy being a part of the adventure with him. While in the city they get a chance to experience all its glory and chaos. Folarin even takes them to one of his favorite sites, a closed amusement park where they are allowed to run free and enjoy the rides. Soon though, the various hardships associated with the city and Folarin’s life come further into view. There are long lines for gas, people are fighting in the streets, money is scarce, greed is in the air, and a contentious political election is taking place.
Director Akinola Davies doesn’t depict all of this with a sense of doom and gloom. Folarin maintains hope that things will get better. There is also plenty of God talk among some of the more extreme members of the society and Folarin is full of wisdom to impart to the boys. The best parts of the film involve the bonding between them on a beach. The scene is reminiscent of Mahershala Ali’s big scene with young “Little” in the Oscar-winning film, Moonlight. The discussions and lessons Folarin attempts to instill are filled with realism and heart. The dialogue is almost lyrical in its style and delivery.
Still, there is plenty of anger and fighting in the streets which disrupts these quieter moments and creates an air of chaos for the boys trying to remain connected to their father. The young boys playing them are real-life brothers who demonstrate solid love as well as the occasional sibling rivalry that can be so common between boys near the same age.
Sope Dirisu is very good as Folarin demonstrating love and devotion to the boys while also expressing anger toward the governmental situation. While some of the details surrounding the latter and its history aren’t entirely clear, they do come from the perspective of young boys trying to make sense of it. We see their point of view.
My Father’s Shadow was selected by the U.K. as its submission for the Best International Film Oscar this year. It didn’t have much of a chance since most of the film features characters speaking English. Still, we are always placed in the mix of quiet moments and the frenetic energy of others that make this feel like a truly immersive cultural experience. It’s also a very good father story.
My Father’s Shadow is currently playing in limited theatrical release, including the Gene Siskel Center in Chicago.