In His Shadow is a French-language drama film that follows two estranged brothers who end up being the hurdle in each other’s path.
In His Shadow revolves around the lives of two half-brothers – Adama and Ibrahim – who navigate their lives quite differently and hence, find themselves in a bloody conflict. The film stars Kaaris, Alassane Diong, Assa Sylla, Issaka Sawadogo, and Carl Malapa.
In His Shadow Story Summary
In the 1980s, Ousmane, Anga, and Ibrahim were a happy family. They move into a small neighborhood, Murets Project. Ousmane owned a restaurant that was doing well and the family of three spent happy times together. Everything seemed great for a while till fights between the parents became a regular event and Ousmane brought in another woman, Mainouna.
Mainouna gets pregnant and gives birth to Adama. Adama’s mother thinks that Agna is involved with a witch in the neighborhood. Adama becomes wary of the lady who seemed like a witch to her.
This was a turning point in Ibrahim’s life as he turns towards crime and violence as an escape from a toxic home. The birth of Agna’s daughter, Aissata, brings a respite to the family along with some peace.
One day, a young Adama gets into a car accident and loses his vision. His mother believes it to be Agna’s doing along with the witch. By this time, Ibrahim becomes so involved with criminal activities, that he ends up in jail – something that distances the father and son. Soon, Ousmane refuses to acknowledge Ibrahim as his son and remains affectionate towards Adama.
Afterward, Ibrahim gets a house and moves out along with his mother and sister. On the other hand, Adama learns to navigate the world, given his loss of vision. His father gifts him an Oware game set, which has, “Embrace your weakness and look to make it your strength”, written on it in Braille.
One day when Aissata visits Adama, Ousmane suffers from a heart attack and passes away. Continuing with his ways, Ibrahim rushes into his childhood home, where Adama and his mother were still living, and he hides his stash and money there, as people will not suspect a blind person. However, members of Ibrahim’s rival gang barge into Adama’s home, shoot his dog and steal everything.
Adama keeps dreaming of the neighborhood witch who has supposedly caused him to go blind. He thinks that since she cast the curse, only she can cure it. He decides to visit her and slowly finds that his vision starts getting better.
Adama goes to meet the rival gang asking for the stash back in order to make peace with his brother. But gets beaten up instead. Ibrahim thinks that his brother is in cahoots with the other gang and so, he kidnaps Adama and locks him up along with Mainouna.
Aissata gets to know about Adama and his mother being locked up so, she decides to bring it up at the dinner table. When Agna gets to know about Adama’s captivity, she becomes unhappy with this information and an argument ensues.
In His Shadow Ending Explained
Agna decides to set Adama and his mother free and decides to visit the room where the two are locked up.
On the other hand, Adama prepares to run away from the cell. He plans that he’ll knock the next person who comes down and will make a run for his life with his mother. Unfortunately, he remains unaware that Agna is the one who’ll be visiting them and he knocks her out. Mainouna asks Adama to keep pretending to be blind to not be blamed for Agna being knocked out.
Adama’s friend and Assaita’s boyfriend, Malik, help Adama hide from Ibrahim. But Assaita soon finds out about this arrangement. She convinces Ibrahim that she’ll let him know Adama’s location but only with the condition that he won’t hurt Malik.
On hearing this, Ibrahim goes into a fit of rage, burning down stores to get money as the rival gang has his stash. Also, he doesn’t keep his promise made to his sister and ends up beating Malik.
Can Adama Take His Brother Down?
Ibrahim captures Malik and tortures him to get information. Adama deals with Ibrahim’s rivals and offers them the control of Murets project – the neighborhood.
Adama starts executing the plan to bring his brother down. He shuts down the power of Ibrahim’s building and enters. He manages to get his friend Malik out with the help of smoke by distracting Ibrahim’s men.
Adama gets into Ibrahim’s apartment and a physical fight ensues between the two brothers. While Adama is not as powerful as Ibrahim, he notices a dagger and stabs his brother. Though he wanted to shoot him, he could not kill Ibrahim and thus, runs away. Assaita finds her wounded brother who finally takes his last breath in the presence of his sister.
Turns out, at the same time, Adama had set a trap for Ibrahim’s rival gang who attack Ibrahim’s stronghold without knowing that Adama had informed the police beforehand. In the end, Adama successfully skims out of the whole situation unnoticed as even the police don’t suspect a blind person.
In His Shadow is now streaming on Netflix.
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