My Father's Shadow

by Mike McGranaghan

My Father’s Shadow is the second movie we’ve had in a year’s time that deals with children trying to make sense of the political turmoil their parents are caught up in. The first was Embeth Davidtz’s wonderful Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight. This one takes place during the 1993 Nigerian presidential election that pitted M.K.O. Abiola of the Democratic Socialist Party against the National Republican Convention’s Bashir Tofa. The outcome of that election led to chaos in the streets. Director Akinola Davies Jr. uses it to tell a story about how two young boys get direction and guidance from their father, who understands how hard the world can be.

Akin (Godwin Egbo) and Remi (Chibuike Marvellous Egbo) accompany their father Folarin (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) to Lagos, where he intends to collect an overdue paycheck. After learning the manager won’t be back until later in the day, he shows his sons around the city, going to an amusement park, a beach, and other places. Throughout their afternoon, Akin and Remi see the economic disparity and intimidating military presence that are fueling anxiety over the election. Folarin, who is very pro-M.K.O., uses the occasion to impart wisdom about life, death, and the power of memory.

What happens on the surface in My Father’s Shadow is pretty basic. What happens underneath is far more complex. The boys soak up a lot of stuff that’s new to them. In one respect, they’re having a fun day with dad; in another, they’re being forced to grow up quickly as they see the harsh realities of life in Nigeria. We sense that Folarin is prepping them for something he thinks might be coming - something they need to prepare for yet instinctively grasp that they should be afraid of. The film may be set in 1993 Nigeria but it’s extremely relevant to our current political climate, with its intensifying divisiveness that our own kids struggle to comprehend.

Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù (Mr. Malcolm’s List) gives a powerhouse turn as Folarin. His love for his sons is obvious, yet he approaches parenting with pragmatism. This is not a man inclined to lead his children to believe life is all sunshine and rainbows. The actor vividly brings out that quality. The Egbo brothers are equally astonishing. They deliver such natural performances that you easily forget they’re following a script.

The one weird thing about My Father’s Shadow is its ending, which includes a time-jump that prevents us from seeing an essential event. It’s an odd choice on Davies’ part, given the abrupt feel. Regardless, the plot’s themes are still driven home in this moment, and perhaps the director felt the jarring transition was the best way to convey his point. Whatever the case, the last two or three minutes are profoundly emotional, speaking meaningfully to the idea that what we learn from - and about - our parents heavily influences the adults we’ll grow up to be.

Great truths come from a simple story, making My Father’s Shadow a picture you won’t be able to stop thinking about.

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