Children’s ingenuity is something so unoffensive yet powerful, since it allows us to perceive things through a different lens. Glory be to God indeed.

Definitely looking forward to Akinola Davies Jr’s future works.

Children’s ingenuity is something so unoffensive yet powerful, since it allows us to perceive things through a different lens. Glory be to God indeed.

Definitely looking forward to Akinola Davies Jr’s future works.

My Father's Shadow is such a tender and personal directoral debut from Akinola Davies Jr. After the credits rolled I found out this isn't even told directly from Davies' memory and is instead almost a window into what a relationship with his father might have looked like, which makes this even more beautifully heart wrenching than it already is.

I didn't know anything about the election crisis that is used as a political backdrop, however that doesn't make it any less tense or impactful. It's used as a ticking time bomb that you just can't help but wait as it slowly counts down to an inevitable explosion.

Sope Dirisu is phenomenal, his performance is so weighted and deep, but still carries subtleties within that make his character feel lived in. There's a lot of talk about a particular beach scene, and for good reason. It's written with such care and truly feels like something you remember experiencimg as a child, but not fully understanding or appreciating until your adult years. The same could be said for the entire film really, but that one particular scene truly excels within that space.

Truly a gem of a film that I hope gets all the love and attention it deserves when people talk about the best films of the year, and perhaps the decade.

2026 Ranked

My Father's Shadow is such a tender and personal directoral debut from Akinola Davies Jr. After the credits rolled I found out this isn't even told directly from Davies' memory and is instead almost a window into what a relationship with his father might have looked like, which makes this even more beautifully heart wrenching than it already is.

I didn't know anything about the election crisis that is used as a political backdrop, however that doesn't make it any less tense or impactful. It's used as a ticking time bomb that you just can't help but wait as it slowly counts down to an inevitable explosion.

Sope Dirisu is phenomenal, his performance is so weighted and deep, but still carries subtleties within that make his character feel lived in. There's a lot of talk about a particular beach scene, and for good reason. It's written with such care and truly feels like something you remember experiencimg as a child, but not fully understanding or appreciating until your adult years. The same could be said for the entire film really, but that one particular scene truly excels within that space.

Truly a gem of a film that I hope gets all the love and attention it deserves when people talk about the best films of the year, and perhaps the decade.

2026 Ranked

My Father’s Shadow was a really beautiful way to end my first LFF experience at the Watershed. The film is powerful, tender, and deeply moving. Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù is absolutely incredible, delivering such a raw and emotional performance that anchors the film. His presence is magnetic, and every moment he’s on screen feels like an honour to watch.
Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo are both really brilliant too, capturing the innocence and confusion of childhood with astonishing authenticity. The sound design deserves huge praise as well, it’s subtle yet evocative, immersing you completely in the world of the story.
What struck me most was how effectively the film depicts the apartheid and the 1993 Nigerian election through a child’s eyes. It’s both intimate and political, deeply personal yet universally resonant. I managed to hold it together for most of the film… until the very end, when I just burst into tears.
A stunning, emotional, and unforgettable piece of cinema.

My Father’s Shadow was a really beautiful way to end my first LFF experience at the Watershed. The film is powerful, tender, and deeply moving. Ṣọpẹ Dìrísù is absolutely incredible, delivering such a raw and emotional performance that anchors the film. His presence is magnetic, and every moment he’s on screen feels like an honour to watch.
Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo are both really brilliant too, capturing the innocence and confusion of childhood with astonishing authenticity. The sound design deserves huge praise as well, it’s subtle yet evocative, immersing you completely in the world of the story.
What struck me most was how effectively the film depicts the apartheid and the 1993 Nigerian election through a child’s eyes. It’s both intimate and political, deeply personal yet universally resonant. I managed to hold it together for most of the film… until the very end, when I just burst into tears.
A stunning, emotional, and unforgettable piece of cinema.

desde la cinemagrafia hasta la historia, increíble trabajo. es raro encontrar películas donde realmente se perciba la perspectiva de los niños entre las dificultades, y esta es una de esas pocas, el cuidado y detalle en cada escena es de admirar.

la relación e inocencia de los niños es lo que más destaca, dándoles espacio a vivir el dolor desde la ingenuidad.

desde la cinemagrafia hasta la historia, increíble trabajo. es raro encontrar películas donde realmente se perciba la perspectiva de los niños entre las dificultades, y esta es una de esas pocas, el cuidado y detalle en cada escena es de admirar.

la relación e inocencia de los niños es lo que más destaca, dándoles espacio a vivir el dolor desde la ingenuidad.

fébrile et saisissant, ct trop trop bien

fébrile et saisissant, ct trop trop bien