Forum Message

Topic: My Father's Shadow
Posted by: Susan Kelly
Date/Time: 10/02/26 17:30:00

Nigeria 1993. Fola works in Lagos and comes home unexpectedly to his village to find that his wife is absent and his two sons, aged 8 and 11, caring for themselves. He takes them back to Lagos with him. Things are not peaceful there, though, with a presidential election in progress. Also Fola has not been paid for 6 months. Hoping to see his boss later and get some money from him, Fola takes the boys on a sightseeing tour.

The opposition win the election and the incumbent promptly declares it null and void. Angry Nigerians take to the streets but they are swamped with trigger-happy soldiers. Fola manages to get the boys out of the city and home.

It's an elegy for absent fathers, obliged in so much of the world to work away from home to earn enough to support their families. Not a great deal happens but it's noisy and colourful and, in the end, sad. Fola speaks often about how much he loves his wife and sons, who are beautifully played by two real-life brothers

Incidentally, the Nigerian Modernism exhibition at the Tate is well worth seeing.


Entire Thread
TopicDate PostedPosted By
Film Reviews 202611/01/26 16:48:00 Susan Kelly
   Hamnet11/01/26 16:53:00 Susan Kelly
      Re:Hamnet11/01/26 22:31:00 Sara Nathan
   The voice of Hind Rajab (Arabic with subtitles)11/01/26 22:33:00 Sara Nathan
   No Other Choice (Korean with subtitles)17/01/26 09:16:00 Sara Nathan
      Re:No Other Choice (Korean with subtitles)25/01/26 16:41:00 Susan Kelly
   28 Years Later: The Bone Temple18/01/26 13:47:00 Susan Kelly
   Nouvelle Vague01/02/26 14:31:00 Susan Kelly
   If I had legs I’d kick you 01/02/26 20:49:00 Sara Nathan
      Re:If I had legs I’d kick you 25/02/26 17:56:00 Susan Kelly
   F102/02/26 22:13:00 Sara Nathan
   My Father's Shadow10/02/26 17:30:00 Susan Kelly
   Hamlet (not Hamnet)12/02/26 17:03:00 Susan Kelly
   The Secret Agent24/02/26 17:21:00 Susan Kelly
   The President's Cake26/02/26 17:06:00 Susan Kelly
   Sirat03/03/26 16:43:00 Susan Kelly
      Re:Sirat10/03/26 11:33:00 Michael Robinson
         Re:Re:Sirat06/04/26 21:07:00 Sara Nathan
   Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man15/03/26 15:16:00 Susan Kelly
   Mr Nobody against Putin (Russian with subtitles)19/03/26 21:48:00 Sara Nathan
   Good Boy24/03/26 15:40:00 Susan Kelly
   Everybody down to Kenmure Street26/03/26 20:43:00 Sara Nathan
   Midwinter Break31/03/26 17:21:00 Susan Kelly
      Re:Midwinter Break31/03/26 18:49:00 Chris Hurley
   The Love That Remains04/04/26 17:47:00 Susan Kelly
   The Drama05/04/26 14:32:00 Susan Kelly
      Re:The Drama06/04/26 21:03:00 Sara Nathan
   Amelie (French with subtitles)06/04/26 07:26:00 Sara Nathan

Forum Home