In his electrifying debut, A Moving Image, Shola Amoo examined the impact of gentrification on his native Brixton, exploring the potential of art to be a political force. Two years later, the writer/director is back with his first narrative feature, which charts a British-Nigerian boy’s difficult coming of age.
The Last Tree received glowing reviews at Sundance, and the first trailer, which you can view exclusively below, offers a glimpse of a life caught between two contrasting worlds.
We are introduced to Femi, who is uprooted from an idyllic countryside home to an estate in South London. The trailer hints at the conflict between Femi (played as a teenager by Sam Adewunmi) and his biological mother, his mistrust of authority figures, and his desperate longing to ultimately find his place in the world.
With lush visuals and a sweeping string score, there is a strong emotional pull to the film, which is partially based on Amoo’s own childhood. You might want to pack a box of tissues when you head to the cinema to see it.
The Last Tree is released in cinemas on 27 September.
Published 16 Jul 2019
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