My Father's Shadow (2025)

The critic hails the debut as a miraculous gem of autofiction that upends expectations with its intimate family drama set against political unrest. It singles out the authentic casting of real-life brothers as the young leads and the revelatory performance of Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù as the mythic father for particular praise.

The critic calls it a hugely impressive debut, personal and political, a tender and spellbinding depiction of family in fraught times. They single out the film's ability to evocatively summon the sights, sounds and smells of Lagos and the well-rounded performance by Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù.

The critic praises Akinola Davies Jr's strong directorial debut as a moving, personal coming-of-age story about two boys briefly reunited with their absent father during Nigeria's 1993 election unrest. It highlights the film's child’s-eye view of Lagos and the emotional question of whether absence equates to love.

The critic describes the film as a strong autobiographically inspired debut that captures a hallucinatory child’s-eye view of 1993 Lagos and paternal complexities. It praises the inspired casting of the young brothers and Dirisu’s tender, thoughtful presence.

The critic describes it as a beguiling coming-of-age story with a strong sense of place in a teeming, vibrant yet dangerous Lagos, praising the beautiful performances that capture the boys’ realization of their father’s strengths and flaws.

The critic calls it a bold debut that blends wide-eyed childhood discovery with political tension in 1990s Nigeria, praising the immersive controlled chaos, strong performances by Sope Dirisu and the young leads, and its touching, contemplative quality.

The review commends the assured directorial debut and Sope Dirisu's nuanced, moving performance as the absent father reconnecting with his sons amid political tension. It singles out the finely judged sibling dynamics and the film's trilingual authenticity.

The critic describes it as a beautifully remembered drama about a fateful day trip into Lagos and the first Nigerian film at Cannes. They highlight the semi-autobiographical tale of an absent father trying to set an example for his sons amid national turmoil.

The critic praises Akinola Davies Jr.’s debut as an exquisite exploration of family bonds and childhood discovery during a single day in 1990s Lagos amid political unrest. It highlights the natural performances by the real-life brother actors and the film’s tender handling of memory, nostalgia, and moral guidance.

The critic calls it a moving portrait of a family and nation on the cusp of change, praising how it filters personal and political hope and fear through the boys' perspectives with strong sound design and character depth. They note the father's complexity and the film's symbolic elements.

The critic calls the debut an elegant and stirring ode to Lagos that poetically parallels the personal and the political through a father-son story set against Nigeria's 1993 election crisis. They single out the impressionistic, child-centered visuals and sound design for praise while noting some patchy narrative elements.

The critic finds the film a deeply personal coming-of-age story filtered through memory and love, following two young brothers on a pivotal day with their father amid Nigeria's 1993 political turmoil. It singles out the luminous, odyssey-like quality of the boys' perspective for praise.

The critic calls it a mournful miracle and one of the most stirring debuts in recent years. He singles out the film's lyrical imagery seen through the children's eyes and its devastating emotional impact in the final minutes.

The critic calls it one of the most moving and universally relevant films at the festival, highlighting the heartfelt story of fathers and sons, strong performances, and poetic cinematography.

The critic calls this a sweet and arresting debut feature from British-Nigerian writer-director Akinola Davies Jr. that follows two brothers on an impromptu day trip to Lagos with their estranged father during the 1993 election crisis.

The critic describes the film as a rhapsody that mixes family dynamics with mystery and political turmoil, praising its elusive quality and blend of reality and imagination.