Like the best autobiographical films, “My Father’s Shadow,” the feature debut of British-Nigerian filmmaker Akinola Davies Jr., mixes the searingly personal with concerns global and universal. Shot on location in Nigeria, the film follows two young brothers, 11-year-old Remi and 8-year-old Akin (real-life brothers Godwin Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo) as they accompany their father, Folarin (Sopé Dìrísù), on a day of errands through the busy streets of Lagos.
Fola is something of a mystery to his sons, rarely present due to his hectic work schedule. As such, we are left to piece together the contours of his existence through their eyes. It’s not clear, for example, exactly what Fola’s job actually entails, but it becomes apparent that he has not received a paycheck in some time (a brief shot of him passing a small baggie to an acquaintance provides a hint as to how he’s made ends meet in the meantime). As he waits for his boss to return to the office to give him a straight answer, Fola takes his sons on a tour of Lagos, including the beach and a seemingly abandoned amusement park, allowing the boys a rare chance to bond with their father.
For much of the film’s running time, “My Father’s Shadow” remains lyrical and episodic. Davies casts an inquisitive eye toward the streets of Lagos, lingering on the general thrum of the busy streets and on interesting faces who make brief eye contact with the boys. The 16mm photography of cinematographer Jermaine Edwards and the warm, analog synths of composers Duval Timothy and CJ Mirra give the proceedings an earthy glow, as if we are looking directly into Davies’ memories of the Nigeria of his youth.
However, this is no rose-tinted period piece. The film’s events take place the day of Nigeria’s tumultuous 1993 election, in which the results, favoring the Social Democratic Party candidate Moshood Abiola, were thrown out by the military regime on the pretense of fraud. There is a nervous energy which pulses throughout the day, eventually coming to a boil as protests spill into the streets. The climactic scenes contrast starkly with what comes before, but they share the same impressionistic quality of being pieced together from memory. Which, of course, they almost certainly are: it’s certainly no coincidence that Davies shares a name with his young protagonist. “My Father’s Shadow” is among the most thoughtful debuts in recent years, and a wistful pleasure to watch. — Oscar Goff
Screens 4/16 through 4/19 at Brattle Theatre, and streaming on MUBI and available on Amazon Prime.
A stronger
Please consider making a financial contribution to maintain, expand and improve Cambridge Day.
We are now a 501(c)3 nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
Please consider a recurring contribution.