In My Father’s Shadow, brothers, Remi and Akin (real life brothers, Godwin Chiemerie Egbo and Chibuike Marvelous Egbo), accompany their father, Folarin (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù), from the village to Lagos to collect his salary – their first time in the city. I was thinking of what else to add to that, but that is the entire story. Folarin has come to collect his salary, and it is Remi and Akin’s first time in Lagos. Yet, Akinola Davies Jr. (and his brother, Wale Davies, who co-wrote the film) manage to build such a simple premise up to epic proportions.
The film is set in the middle of the political tension of 1993 Nigeria which contributes to its epic-ness, but its main contributing factor is that we are seeing Lagos through Remi and Akin’s eyes. As is common with children, small interactions become larger than life, and that one person they saw in traffic one time becomes the signboard of an era. I could relate to that aspect of the film, having grown up in Lagos, and having my own ‘small interaction with a stranger in traffic’ moment that still lives in my brain.
One thing I LOVE about this film is the political tension brewing underneath it throughout. I am a big supporter of preserving our history through film, and My Father’s Shadow does that beautifully, taking a very significant part of Nigeria’s democratic history and placing it at the front of our minds. I believe Nigerian cinema needs more of this and am glad to think about how this film will open those doors. It was also somewhat tragic watching this film as a Nigerian and hearing the same ‘Nigeria will get better’ sentiment we hear now in a time period that was 3 decades ago. Wale Davies explained at the screening that it feels like the goalpost keeps moving, and in a subtle way, the film leaves us with the question, “when will that ‘better’ be?”
But, at its heart, My Father’s Shadow is about family. Dìrísù, and the Egbo brothers give beautifully layered performances, exploring brotherhood, fatherhood, childhood, and masculinity, each with strength and a depth of understanding. It is them that keep you in the story, which is even more impressive considering this is the Egbo brothers’ first film.
I can’t wait to see what they all do next.
My Father’s Shadow is playing at TIFF ’25. For more information, click here.
