White Colour Black review – Dudley O’Shaughnessy is one to watch

The boxer turned actor anchors this tale of a UK photographer who travels to Senegal after the death of his estranged father

British-Nigerian director Joseph Adesunloye's feature debut - made in 2016 but only now seeing the light of day - is the story of a London photographer travelling to Senegal for his father's funeral. It's a drifting movie, not entirely successful but grounded by the undeniable screen presence of boxer turned model turned actor Dudley O'Shaughnessy. (He was in the recent season of Top Boy; in his modelling days he appeared opposite Rihanna in the video for We Found Love.)

Here he plays Leke, a fashion photographer living the dream in Hackney; home is a loft-style flat overlooking the city and Leke is about to open a major show in China. The film begins with a couple of fake-feeling gallery scenes, everyone head-to-toe in black and air-kissing with extravagant mwah-mwahs (this is the art world recognisable from other movies rather than real life). Despite his success, Leke seems detached from his life in London. He is also ignoring telephone messages from Senegal, where his father is seriously ill. When the inevitable call comes - his dad has died - Leke flies to Dakar. A family friend has arranged for a taxi driver to be his guide. What do you speak? French? Wolof?" Leke shakes his head no. Mon ami," says the guy. Tu est perdu. You are really, really lost."