# My Father's Shadow (2025) — Celluloid fact sheet

Source: https://celluloidscore.com/movies/my-fathers-shadow/
Last reviewed: 2026-08-31

| Field | Value |
|-------|-------|
| Celluloid Score | 84% |
| Editorial Rating | 98/100 |
| Audience Snapshot | 88% (excluded from composite) |
| Metascore | 85/100 |
| Letterboxd | 4/5 |
| IMDb | 7.4/10 |
| Director | Akinola Davies Jr. |
| Genres | Drama, Family |
| Runtime | 93 min |
| Festival premiere | Cannes 2025 |

## Quick answer

My Father's Shadow (2025) earns a 84% Celluloid Score — Recommended. Critics have called this semi-autobiographical debut a quietly devastating breakthrough, praising Sope Dirisu's restrain Metascore 85/100. Directed by Akinola Davies Jr..

## Celluloid verdict

Critics have called this semi-autobiographical debut a quietly devastating breakthrough, praising Sope Dirisu's restrained lead performance and Akinola Davies Jr.'s ability to fold national upheaval into an intimate father-son story without ever feeling didactic.

## Synopsis

Over one sweltering day in Lagos during the tense 1993 Nigerian election, two young brothers tag along with the estranged father they barely know as he chases down a debt across the city. Between an amusement park detour and a beach stop, small tender moments accumulate — even as the father hides a nosebleed and a secret that will reshape how his sons remember him.

## Cast

Sope Dirisu, Godwin Chiemerie Egbo, Chibuike Marvellous Egbo, Uzoamaka Power

## Accolades

Premiered at Cannes 2025.

## Where to watch

Global: MUBI
the United States: MUBI
the United Kingdom: MUBI
India: MUBI
Turkey: MUBI
South Korea: MUBI
the Philippines: MUBI
Pakistan: MUBI
Malaysia: MUBI
Thailand: MUBI

## Critic reviews on Celluloid: 1

## Common questions

**Is My Father's Shadow worth watching?**
My Father's Shadow holds a 84% Celluloid Score. Critics have called this semi-autobiographical debut a quietly devastating breakthrough, praising Sope Dirisu's restrained lead performance and Akinola Davies Jr.'s ability to fold national upheaval into an intimate father-son story without ever feeling didactic.

**What is My Father's Shadow about?**
Over one sweltering day in Lagos during the tense 1993 Nigerian election, two young brothers tag along with the estranged father they barely know as he chases down a debt across the city. Between an amusement park detour and a beach stop, small tender moments accumulate — even as the father hides a nosebleed and a secret that will reshape how his sons remember him.

**Who directed My Father's Shadow?**
My Father's Shadow (2025) was directed by Akinola Davies Jr..

**What is the Celluloid Score of My Father's Shadow?**
84% — calculated from available Celluloid editorial (98/100), Metascore (85/100), Letterboxd (4/5), and IMDb (7.4/10) inputs. Audience sentiment is excluded.

**Where can I watch My Father's Shadow?**
My Father's Shadow is streaming on MUBI; on MUBI in the United States; on MUBI in the United Kingdom; on MUBI in India; on MUBI in Turkey; on MUBI in South Korea; on MUBI in the Philippines; on MUBI in Pakistan; on MUBI in Malaysia; on MUBI in Thailand. Availability varies by region.

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Reviewed and scored by Celluloid · Editor: Kaiser Khan (https://celluloidscore.com/author/kaiser-khan/)

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