Overview
- Akinola Davies Jr. makes his feature debut with a father–son drama co-written with his brother Wale, drawing on family memories.
- Set during Nigeria’s 1993 election turmoil associated with MKO Abiola, the story follows a father taking his two young sons into Lagos.
- Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù earns praise as the conflicted father, with naturalistic turns from real-life brothers Godwin Chiemerie Egbo and Chibuike Marvellous Egbo.
- The film was shot on 16mm entirely on location in Lagos with handheld camerawork; it runs 93 minutes and is released in North America by Mubi after opening in the U.K. and Ireland.
- After a historic official selection at Cannes, the film drew 12 BIFA nominations, a BAFTA debut nod, Gotham wins for director and lead performance, and it was not shortlisted in the U.K.’s Oscars submission.