Colonial Gods

2009 0h 29m EN

🙌

7.8

BANGER

★7.8TMDB · 4

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A complicated friendship between a young Somali and Nigerian man unfolds against the chaos of gentrification and displacement in the small immigrant community in Cardiff known as Tiger Bay.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Cornell John
Izi
Said Mohamed
Abdi
Steve Northy
Policeman 2
Mukhtar Yaro
Mr. Achebe
Yakuba Bayi
Mr. Togba
Golda Rosheuvel
Suzanne
Jâms Thomas
Mr. Rowlands
Lee James
Izi's Lover

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Dee Rees
Writers: Dee Rees
Languages: English, Hausa, Somali
Countries: United Kingdom, United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 29-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 17 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Hausa, Somali.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Dee Rees, shot by Bradford Young. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Shahzad Ismaily. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Gena Bleier shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Cornell John and Said Mohamed and Steve Northy carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Dee Rees directs. Bradford Young behind the camera. Shahzad Ismaily scores. Gena Bleier cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United Kingdom, United States of America. Dialogue in English, Hausa, Somali.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 29-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
2Released 17 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Hausa, Somali.
4International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, United States of America.
5Directed by Dee Rees, shot by Bradford Young. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Shahzad Ismaily. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Gena Bleier shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Cornell John and Said Mohamed and Steve Northy carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt1655586 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 4 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.