{"id":33616,"date":"2025-09-21T00:03:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-21T00:03:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/33616\/"},"modified":"2025-09-21T00:03:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T00:03:08","slug":"slow-horses-stars-near-perfect-90s-set-drama-with-heartfelt-plot-finally-gets-uk-release-date","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/33616\/","title":{"rendered":"Slow Horses star&#8217;s near-perfect &#8217;90s-set drama with &#8220;heartfelt&#8221; plot finally gets UK release date"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"1\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">My Father&#8217;s Shadow has finally landed itself a UK release date after <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/cannes-film-festival\/a64855983\/my-fathers-shadow-sope-dirisu-rotten-tomatoes\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/cannes-film-festival\/a64855983\/my-fathers-shadow-sope-dirisu-rotten-tomatoes\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"receiving critical acclaim at film festivals\" data-node-id=\"1.2\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">receiving critical acclaim at film festivals<\/a> earlier this year, including at Cannes, where it was the first ever Nigerian film to be included in the Official Selection.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"4\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The film is set across a single day in the Nigerian city of Lagos against the backdrop of the infamous 1993 presidential elections, one of the major moments in a long period of political crisis in the country.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"6\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Partly based on the real-life experience of director Akinola Davies Jr and his brother\/the film&#8217;s writer Wale Davies, the story follows two young boys as they travel across Lagos with their father, with the unrest in the city threatening their journey home.<\/p>\n<p>What to Read Next<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"10\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Slow Horses&#8217; \u1e62\u1ecdp\u1eb9\u0301 D\u00ecr\u00eds\u00f9 plays the boys&#8217; father, Folarin. As the Davies brothers&#8217; real-life father died when they were both very young, they mostly had to base D\u00ecr\u00eds\u00f9&#8217;s role mostly on stories they had been told.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"12\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Distributor MUBI has announced that the film will premiere in the UK on 17 October at the BFI London Film Festival, and will then have a theatrical release across the UK and Ireland from 6 February, 2026.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"sope dirisu, my father's shadow\" title=\"Sope Dirisu, My Father's Shadow\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"3750\" height=\"2500\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/sope-dirisu-my-fathers-shadow-68cd0fadbadf3.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Mubi<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"15\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/a29669\/uk-film-release-dates\/\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/a29669\/uk-film-release-dates\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"UK film release dates\" data-node-id=\"15.2\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">UK film release dates<\/a><\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"17\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">On <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rottentomatoes.com\/m\/my_fathers_shadow\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.rottentomatoes.com\/m\/my_fathers_shadow\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Rotten Tomatoes\" data-node-id=\"17.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Rotten Tomatoes<\/a>, the film has a near-perfect score, with 95% positive from 20 collected critic reviews.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"19\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><a href=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2025\/film\/reviews\/my-fathers-shadow-review-nigeria-cannes-1236402288\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/variety.com\/2025\/film\/reviews\/my-fathers-shadow-review-nigeria-cannes-1236402288\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Variety\" data-node-id=\"19.0\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Variety<\/a> praised D\u00ecr\u00eds\u00f9 for delivering &#8220;a revelatory performance that should put him at the top of casting lists, ground[ing] fantasy with a realistically intense but quiet performance&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"21\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The casting of Chibuike Marvellous Egbo and Godwin Egbo as the young brothers was further described as &#8220;the filmmakers&#8217; other master stroke&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"sope dirisu, my father's shadow\" title=\"Sope Dirisu, My Father's Shadow\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2560\" height=\"3840\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\"   src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/my-fathers-shadow-68cd0fabc50f4.jpg\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Mubi<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"24\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">Related: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/a67951918\/one-battle-after-another-reviews\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/a67951918\/one-battle-after-another-reviews\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Near-perfect action-thriller One Battle After Another hailed an &quot;instant classic&quot; \u2013 here&#039;s why\" data-node-id=\"24.0.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Near-perfect action-thriller One Battle After Another hailed an &#8220;instant classic&#8221; \u2013 here&#8217;s why<\/a> <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"26\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">&#8220;This is a beautifully rendered film about the kind of loss that permanently rips you apart,&#8221; reads <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/festivals\/cannes-2025-my-fathers-shadow-enzo-dalloway\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/festivals\/cannes-2025-my-fathers-shadow-enzo-dalloway\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"RogerEbert.com\" data-node-id=\"26.1\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">RogerEbert.com<\/a>&#8216;s review, which also noted the &#8220;enrapturing score that oscillates between ethereal highs and moody lows&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"28\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/2025\/may\/18\/my-fathers-shadow-review-subtle-and-intelligent-coming-of-age-tale-set-in-1993-nigeria\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/2025\/may\/18\/my-fathers-shadow-review-subtle-and-intelligent-coming-of-age-tale-set-in-1993-nigeria\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"The Guardian\" data-node-id=\"28.0\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Guardian<\/a> further called it &#8220;a rich, heartfelt and rewarding movie&#8221;, while <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/movies\/movie-reviews\/my-fathers-shadow-review-nigeria-sope-dirisu-1236220935\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/movies\/movie-reviews\/my-fathers-shadow-review-nigeria-sope-dirisu-1236220935\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"The Hollywood Reporter\" data-node-id=\"28.2.0\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">The Hollywood Reporter<\/a> called it &#8220;elegant and stirring&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"30\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">My Father&#8217;s Shadow releases in UK and Irish cinemas on 6 February, 2026, following a premiere at the BFI London Film Festival in October.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"33\" class=\"css-18ljdn6 emevuu60\">The new edition of Living Legends is here! <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/special-editions-subscriptions-lvgladygaga\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.hearstmagazines.co.uk\/special-editions-subscriptions-lvgladygaga\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Buy Gaga in newsagents or online\" data-node-id=\"33.3\" class=\"body-link css-1lh7k7j emevuu60\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Buy Gaga in newsagents or online<\/a>, priced at just \u00a38.99.<\/p>\n<p><img src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758412988_522_6bf117e6-90c2-44bc-a2bb-92355b4636ba_1550228669.file\" alt=\"Headshot of Joe Anderton\" title=\"Headshot of Joe Anderton\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"css-o0wq4v ev8dhu53\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Joe Anderton is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy, having worked there since 2016. In his time, he&#8217;s covered a host of live events and interviewed celebrities big and small. A big fan of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/tv\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">TV<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.digitalspy.com\/movies\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">movies<\/a> both mainstream and obscure, Joe also enjoys video games and in particular PlayStation. Joe currently does not use Twitter, but he only ever used it to tell people to watch the film Help! I&#8217;m a Fish.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"My Father&#8217;s Shadow has finally landed itself a UK release date after receiving critical acclaim at film festivals&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":33617,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[1105,26458,1107,93,61,60,1135,270,26457],"class_list":{"0":"post-33616","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-movies","8":"tag-content-type-news","9":"tag-contentid-a49302f5-e83f-408b-970b-fcb30f61a029","10":"tag-displaytype-standard-article","11":"tag-entertainment","12":"tag-ie","13":"tag-ireland","14":"tag-locale-gb","15":"tag-movies","16":"tag-shorttitle-slow-horses-stars-drama-gets-uk-release-date"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33616","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33616"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33616\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33616"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33616"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33616"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}