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.
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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.
