A while back I worked on a short film with my friends, it’s a tiny part of a much bigger story and I’m excited at how it has all come together.
I’ll be dropping it this Friday, it’s titled FALLING. It’s focused on Men’s metal health and I hope you love it as much as we do.
This review explains how unfamiliar we (Nigerians) are with arthouse films.
Heavy symbolism is the hallmark of an arthouse film.
I’ll hate to sound like a cinema snob, but it will do you some good to get familiar with arthouse films to broaden your review range.
This review explains how unfamiliar we (Nigerians) are with arthouse films.
Heavy symbolism is the hallmark of an arthouse film.
I’ll hate to sound like a cinema snob, but it will do you some good to get familiar with arthouse films to broaden your review range.
My review of My Father’s Shadow (A long read)
Firstly, the production design, sound design, cinematography, and overall recreation of 1990s Lagos were impressive. The atmosphere felt authentic, and the performances, especially from the two boys and the actor who played the father were strong.
However, as a viewer, the film didn’t fully connect with me in the way I expected it to.
One of my biggest challenges with the film was its heavy reliance on symbolism and subtext. While I appreciate films that trust their audience, My Father’s Shadow often felt like it was asking viewers to do too much of the thinking and emotional work themselves. Rather than deepening the story, some of the symbolism felt excessive, making the narrative less engaging than it could have been.
I also found the dialogue underwhelming. For a film set against such a significant period in Nigerian history, I expected conversations that carried more weight, depth, and insight.
The political commentary was another area where the film fell short for me. The backdrop of Nigeria’s political climate is clearly present, but it never felt fully integrated into the story. The film gestures towards the whole MKO and military era but it wasn’t developed enough to create a meaningful impact. As a result, the commentary felt disconnected rather than essential to the narrative. I understand that the film was ultimately about a father and his sons, but given the historical context it was operating within, I wanted more.
The pacing was another challenge. The slow pace often made the film feel stagnant, and I found myself waiting for certain narrative to come together in a more satisfying way.
Another aspect that didn’t quite work for me was the father’s Yoruba. For a character meant to embody a Yoruba father in 1990s Lagos, the language delivery was off
Ultimately, I think My Father’s Shadow succeeds far more as a technical and artistic achievement than as a piece of storytelling. It is visually beautiful, well-acted, and atmospherically rich, but I found the writing, political commentary, and emotional payoff less compelling than I had hoped.
But i appreciate the Craftsmanship, it gave us something fresh.
@11princessn It is. It’s just more mainstream than a typical arthouse film would be.
For example, its “auteur” centered creative expression is a good pointer that it’s an arthouse film.
I honestly think Nollywood needs to start making more films like this.
We’re getting so used to chaos and exaggerated dramas in our films that we sometimes don’t know how to sit/feel with something different.
That said, it was nice that you finally saw it👍
I strongly believe we need more media literacy and more engagement with literature.
Watch more films like this.
Not necessarily because you'll end up liking them, but because they help sharpen your ability to identify subtext and interpret art.
This is all the evidence you need to know that this government is not interested in stopping terrorism because if they can track this guy down, they can also track down terrorists who are actively posting on TikTok.
- 7 in 10 Nigerian children can’t read properly or solve basic maths.
- 9 in 10 children aged 7–14 cannot read at all.
- Only 6.3% of Nigerian children have basic maths proficiency.
Nigeria is now facing a generational early childhood development crisis. And it is political.
You are watching a country decline slowly, no academic rigor, cognitive atrophy in full display.
This dovetails into a general lack of ability to enforce excellence that finds its way into communal and work spaces.