Two young boys spend a day with their oft absent father in Lagos amid political turbulence in "My Father's Shadow," an affecting debut feature from Akinola Davies Jr. The film, which premiered at last year's Cannes Film Festival, might have missed out on the Oscars (the U.K.'s selection didn't even make the shortlist ), but don't let that oversight dissuade you from seeking it out now that it's finally opening in North American theaters this weekend. "My Father's Shadow" is a gem, a deeply felt memory piece and vibrant portrait of Nigeria in 1993. The script was a collaboration between Davies Jr. and his brother, Wale Davies, who were born and raised in Nigeria and lost their father at a young age. They were 8 and 10 at the time of the 1993 election, the same age as the two main characters, but this story is only loosely autobiographical — inspired by that loss and those feelings. In "My Father's Shadow," the father, Folarin (a brilliant Sopé Dìrísù ) is very much alive, but there's dread in the air. Time seems to slow when they pass by a group of military men who all turn and stare, like Folarin has a target on him. More than a few characters seem downright startled to see him, too, as though he's already a ghost. It might sound a little silly or contrived, but it's done with such subtlety it's quite moving in execution. After all, Folarin is already kind of a fading memory for his sons, Aki (Godwin Egbo) and Remi (Chibuike Marvelous Egbo), as absent as he is in their lives. At the beginning of the film, the boys catch him stopping by their house in the village to change clothes quickly before departing again. At first, you're not sure what kind of man and father Folarin is — he seems distant and uninterested in the boys, who insist on coming with... Read More