The Story⚡
A man who once denied his child returns after ten years seeking redemption, only to discover that some wounds refuse to close and some truths demand a heavier price than absence ever did.
Tell Me More
A Father’s Secret, a Switch Visuals Productions feature film from Nigeria, runs 110 minutes and is spoken in English. Directed by Degzy and written by Moshood Yakubu Olawale, the family drama centers on Anita, a resilient single mother raising her asthmatic daughter Izie while caring for her aging, devout father, Pa Johnson.
Years earlier, Anita’s life changed when Juwon, her tutor and lover, denied responsibility for her pregnancy so he could secure a visa to the United Kingdom. The denial brought public humiliation, estrangement from her family, and years of solitary struggle to raise their child.
A decade later, Juwon returns to Nigeria, married, childless, and under pressure to reconnect with the daughter he once rejected. His reappearance collides with the life Anita has painstakingly rebuilt and with Chike, the hardworking man who has stood beside her through hardship. As Juwon begins to form a bond with Izie and quietly supports Anita’s struggling business, old wounds reopen. Emotional tension and jealousy push Chike to the margins while Anita confronts unresolved trauma. Religious counsel urges forgiveness, yet she must weigh faith against justice and self-preservation.
Tragedy deepens the conflict when Pa Johnson dies suddenly, leaving Izie emotionally vulnerable and Anita grieving. In the aftermath, Juwon’s involvement intensifies, culminating in a secret plan to relocate Izie abroad without Anita’s knowledge or consent, framed as the promise of a “better future.”
Director Adeoluwa Owu reflects on the project: “I had an exciting time working on this. The cast was phenomenal. Dami, the executive producer, sent me the story, and when I read it, I was impressed and started chasing her about when we would film it. It is not every story you simply read and enjoy. There was no scene I found most challenging, though I particularly enjoyed one in the church because of the exceptional performance of the child actor. After that scene, I knew we were onto something special. Everyone has a secret and tries to protect it out of fear of what might be lost. Yet nothing stays hidden forever. If you are dealing with something, find a way to open up to the necessary people and communicate what needs to be said, especially when others are suffering because of your decisions. I am drawn to stories that touch my heart first, and this is one I am very proud of.”
Executive producer Damilola Oshikoya adds: “I joined this project because the story was really good. It is an amazing story, and I cannot wait for people to experience its dynamics and complexity. One challenge we faced was finding the right location and funding, but Captain Degzy does not let go. He always gets what he wants. After moving around, we secured the best location, and that has given us the film now showing in cinemas.”
The cast includes Timini Egbuson as Juwon, Diva Gold as Anita, Bryan Boomba as Chike, Nkwocha Princess as Izie, Odunlade Adekola as Pastor Muyiwa, Remi Surutu as Aunty Adun, Fadekemi Olumide as Mama Juwon, Joseph Oni as Pa Johnson, and supporting performances from Tolani Odobo, Emeka Golden, Ibeh Oluebube Marycynthia, Toju Peter, Jonathan Dosunmu, Martha Nduka, Gloria Hanson, and others.
Key crew credits include executive producers Damilola Osikoya, Olukemi Gold Aluko, Odunlade Adekola, and Ope Ajayi; producer Damilola Osikoya; and line producer Oluwole Oladimeji.
In Summary
A Father’s Secret examines the lasting cost of denial, the limits of forgiveness, and the fragile balance between second chances and the right to protect what has been hard-won. It arrives in cinemas on August 21.
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