The Lost Days: A Deep Dive into Family, Forgiveness, and Redemption

In July 2025, Nollywood will introduce a new, compelling family drama with the release of The Lost Days on Prime Video. Set to premiere on July 11, the film is the latest installment in the First Features Project, an initiative dedicated to nurturing new Nigerian filmmakers. This debut film, directed by Wingonia Ikpi, tackles themes of abandonment, regret, and the complex journey toward redemption.

The story revolves around Chisom (Ifeoma Fafunwa), a successful woman in remission from lymphoma cancer, who returns to her hometown of Abeokuta after years of estrangement. The purpose of her visit is to reconcile with the family she had left behind. Chisom’s attempt to mend old wounds, however, takes an unexpected and unsettling turn when she vanishes without a trace. What starts as a hopeful reunion soon unravels, forcing her family to face the deep scars of the past that never quite healed.

At the heart of this emotional drama is Chisom’s tumultuous relationship with her daughter, Nkem (Cynthia Clarke), and the unresolved tension with her former lover, Baba Kola (Bimbo Manuel). As they search for Chisom, the family must confront their own painful histories, revealing the ways in which trauma, silence, and the weight of tradition shape their lives. The film’s core question — can true forgiveness ever be achieved, and is it possible to heal familial wounds that run too deep? — resonates powerfully throughout the narrative.

The film's stellar cast is a mix of seasoned Nollywood stars and newcomers. Ifeoma Fafunwa makes a notable screen debut, bringing authenticity and depth to her role as Chisom. Bimbo Manuel delivers a deeply emotional performance as Baba Kola, who is torn between lingering love and the harsh realities of the present. Baaj Adebule plays Moses, while Durotimi Okutagidi portrays Kola, and Cynthia Clarke shines as Nkem, the daughter caught between resentment and the hope of reconciliation.

Written by Abdul Tijani-Ahmed and Paul S. Rowlston, The Lost Days doesn’t shy away from the messy, often painful truths that define family dynamics. The script delves into the emotional complexities of intergenerational trauma, the grief that is never properly addressed, and the quiet violence that simmers beneath the surface of many Nigerian households, where uncomfortable conversations are often silenced by tradition.

Produced by Steve Gukas, Dotun Olakunri, Chioma Ezeani, and Bola Atta under the First Features banner, this project is a collaboration between Native Filmworks and Michelangelo Productions, aimed at giving fresh voices a platform in African cinema. Wingonia Ikpi, with her background in talent management, brings a keen understanding of human emotions to her directorial debut, weaving a story that explores how love, regret, and the pursuit of redemption intersect in powerful ways.

The Lost Days premieres exclusively on Prime Video on July 11, 2025 — a film that promises to leave audiences reflecting on the complexities of family and the difficult path toward healing.