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Adu

Adu

2020119 minTV-MAMidcredits score: 74th percentile of all films
Director
Salvador Calvo
Starring
Luis Tosar, Álvaro Cervantes, Anna Castillo, Miquel Fernández

In a desperate attempt to reach Europe and crouched before an airstrip in Cameroon, a six-year-old boy and his older sister wait to sneak into the holds of an airplane. Not too far away, an environmental activist contemplates the terrible image of an elephant, dead and fangless. Not only do you have to fight against poaching, but you will also have to meet the problems of your newly arrived daughter from Spain. Thousands of kilometers to the north, in Melilla, a group of civil guards prepare to face the furious crowd of sub-Saharan people who have begun the assault on the fence. Three stories linked by a central theme, in which none of its protagonists know that their destinies are doomed to cross and that their lives will no longer be the same.

Where to watch

Where can I watch Adu?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Adu streaming on Netflix.

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Your rating, lists and review

Highlights

What stands out about Adu?

Adu earns 6 badges, led by Standout acting and Crowd Pleaser.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Awards and box office

Reception

Is Adu worth watching?

Adu's Midcredits score is the 74th percentile of all films, from 6.1K ratings across 2 sources. 64% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

74th percentile

Better received than 74% of films

77th percentile among Drama75th percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)75th
Approval (how many liked it)71st

68 /100

75th percentile of all films

78th percentile among Drama74th percentile among 2020s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 6.8 — solid but not unanimous.

64% liked it

71st percentile of all films

73rd percentile among Drama72nd percentile among 2020s
64% rated it 7–1036% rated it 1–6

Awards

0 Oscars won · 0 Oscar noms · 9 wins / 25 noms overall

Reach

How many have seen it

74th percentile

5.8K ratings across platforms

76th percentile among Drama73rd percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 1% in 30 days

Box office

Worldwide gross$7.1M

82nd percentile earner in its genre.

What reviewers say

Common ground

The film has three separate storylines that are thematically linked but not strongly connected narratively.

Fans praised

  • Extraordinary child performance by Moustapha Oumarou
  • Emotional impact and raw realism of the immigrant experience
  • Beautiful cinematography and authentic African landscapes

Detractors panned

  • Disjointed, weakly connected three-story structure
  • Underdeveloped supporting storylines feel unnecessary or forced
  • Suffering child maintains unrealistically sunny disposition

What stands out

ActingDivisive85

child lead Moustapha Oumarou called phenomenal and extraordinary; strong adult cast

Emotional impactDivisive80

extremely moving for fans; detractors found it emotionally flat

Cinematography80

beautiful landscapes and authentic African scenery; use of different film stocks

AtmosphereDivisive80

immersive, gritty reportage-style camerawork; authentic locations

Pacing50

mostly works despite almost two-hour runtime; some find it jumbled

Plot and storyDivisive45

three disjointed storylines with weak connections and unresolved threads

CharactersDivisive40

one-dimensional side characters; underdeveloped supporting arcs

EndingDivisive40

mixed satisfaction; some found endings meaningful, others anticlimactic or unsatisfying

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by Non-US Viewers

Non-US viewers scored it 22 points higher than US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 1 point apart

Watch experience

What is Adu like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Harrowing: browse every movie of this kind

Watch this when you are ready for a hard story that does not look away.

It is intense and leaves you haunted. Skip it when you want an easy night.

ToneFeelDemandwhat the answer rests onexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

Room for heavy feelings.

What it feels like

Harrowing.

Moods
TenseMelancholicHopeful
Heaviest: throughout
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Brooding: Heavy, inward, weather-beaten.
Told as
Hyperlink · 1% of films: Separate storylines that intersect by coincidence.Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.
ToneThe film handles its heavy subject matter with earnest gravity and a brooding tension.
The rideThe constant peril of migration and the weight of separation sustain a heavy, anxious atmosphere from start to finish, punctuated by moments of tenderness.
StructureThe narrative interweaves three separate storylines that gradually converge.

How it leaves you

what you carry away

Haunted.

The answer rests on this: Haunting · 14% of filmsThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe film's depiction of migration's human cost lingers, raising difficult questions about morality and survival.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all films
Monster — 21% of films. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of films. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 10% of films. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 4% of films. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 11% of films. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 9% of films. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 13% of films. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 7% of films. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 22% of filmsPredator — 6% of films. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 6% of films. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of films. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 2% of films. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of films. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of films. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of films. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of films. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of films. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of films. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — under 1% of films. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of films. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of films. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of films. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of films. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 4% of films. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 5% of films. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of films. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — 1% of films. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of films. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 2% of films. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — 1% of films. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of films. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — 1% of films. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 4% of films. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of films. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of films. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of films. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 1% of films. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of films. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — 2% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 2% of films. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 2% of films. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 3% of films. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 3% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 5% of films. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of films. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 2% of films. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of films. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 5% of films. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 2% of films. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 21%: Predator 6% · Tyrant 6% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 2% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent under 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 10%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 4% · Mission 5% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage 1%
  • Voyage 4%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 2% · Survival ordeal 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent 1%
  • Comedy 11%: Romantic comedy 4% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 1%
  • Tragedy 9%: Hubris 1% · Obsession 2% · Corruption arc 2% · Doomed love 2% · Crushed by fate 3%
  • Rebirth 13%: Redemption 3% · Healing 5% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 2%
  • Mystery 7%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 5% · Enigma 2%
  • No archetype 22% (this title)

No archetype fits — true of 22% of films: ensemble pieces, satire, slice-of-life.

Why this archetypeAn ensemble drama following multiple characters whose lives intersect around migration from Africa to Europe.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 27% of filmsSelf — 22% of filmsPower — 7% of filmsMorality — 16% of filmsSurvival — 15% of filmsSociety — 9% of filmsIdeas — 5% of filmsRomantic love — 15% of filmsMarriage — 2% of filmsFamily bonds — 21% of filmsParenthood — 2% of filmsFriendship — 9% of filmsLoyalty — 4% of filmsIdentity — 14% of filmsComing of age — 5% of filmsAging — under 1% of filmsSelf-worth — 7% of filmsAmbition — 7% of filmsPurpose — 9% of filmsMemory — 3% of filmsObsession — 3% of films. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 2% of filmsCorruption — 3% of filmsGreed — 3% of filmsClass — 3% of filmsOppression — 4% of filmsFreedom — 5% of filmsJustice — 13% of filmsDuty — 2% of filmsRevenge — 4% of filmsGuilt — 3% of filmsRedemption — 6% of films. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — 1% of filmsSacrifice — 4% of filmsBetrayal — 5% of filmsDeception — 9% of filmsSurvival — 17% of filmsWar — 1% of filmsViolence — 4% of filmsMortality — 2% of filmsGrief — 6% of filmsTrauma — 7% of filmsMental illness — 1% of filmsAddiction — 1% of filmsIllness and disability — under 1% of filmsCommunity — 14% of films. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 5% of filmsPrejudice — 3% of filmsDisplacement — 1% of filmsFaith — 3% of filmsTradition vs change — 2% of filmsFame — 3% of filmsLegacy — 4% of filmsFate — 1% of filmsFree will — under 1% of filmsTruth — 4% of filmsHope — 5% of filmsNature — 2% of filmsArt — 4% of filmsTechnology — 1% of filmsSelfIdentitySelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 27%: Romantic love 15% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 21% (this title) · Parenthood 2% · Friendship 9% · Loyalty 4%
  • Self 22% (this title): Identity 14% (this title) · Coming of age 5% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 7% · Purpose 9% · Memory 3% · Obsession 3%
  • Power 7%: Power 2% · Corruption 3% · Greed 3% · Class 3% · Oppression 4% · Freedom 5%
  • Morality 16%: Justice 13% · Duty 2% · Revenge 4% · Guilt 3% · Redemption 6% · Forgiveness 1% · Sacrifice 4% · Betrayal 5% · Deception 9%
  • Survival 15%: Survival 17% · War 1% · Violence 4% · Mortality 2% · Grief 6% · Trauma 7% · Mental illness 1% · Addiction 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 9%: Community 14% · Isolation 5% · Prejudice 3% · Displacement 1% (this title) · Faith 3% · Tradition vs change 2% · Fame 3% · Legacy 4%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 4% · Hope 5% · Nature 2% · Art 4% · Technology 1%

Self

Identity · 14% of filmsDisplacement · 1% of filmsFamily bonds
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Ensemble lead
How it treats its themeEach protagonist is forced to reconcile who they are with the harsh realities of migration, family separation, and the loss of home.
StanceThe film examines the human cost of migration without offering easy answers, questioning the systems that create such journeys.

The world

ContemporaryRuralUrbanIn transitRealistic
Orchestral modernWorldSupportive music · original score · Roque Baños
SettingMigration routes from West Africa to Europe, spanning villages, transit camps, and Spanish enclaves.
MusicThe score blends orchestral passages with African musical elements to underscore the cultural and emotional terrain.

Content guide

Is Adu okay for kids?

TV-MA

Adu is rated TV-MA. As of March 15, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at mild (33/100), sexual content at minimal (0/100), language at intense (67/100), drug and alcohol content at minimal (0/100) and frightening material at severe (100/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 6 other countries
  • JapanR18+
  • Poland16
  • RO18
  • Russia16+
  • SingaporeNC16
  • Spain16
Overall
Intense · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Mild
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Sex & Nudity
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Profanity
Intense
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Alcohol & Drugs
None / Minimal
too few votes to rank (1 vote)
Frightening / Intense
Severe
too few votes to rank (1 vote)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (6 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other films that have them.

What content warnings does Adu have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Adu?

Cast

1 of the cast already had the standing of a top-10% working actor.

Luis Tosar
as Gonzalo
Established: A standing when this film came out that a top-10% working actor has today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Álvaro Cervantes
as Mateo
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Anna Castillo
as Sandra
Rising: A short career with a standing when this film came out above the median working actor today.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Miquel Fernández
as Miguel
Jesús Carroza
as Javi
Ana Wagener
as Paloma
Nora Navas
as Carmen
Issaka Sawadogo
as Kebila
Bella Agossou
as Safí
Newcomer: A standing when this film came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Josean Bengoetxea
as Comandante Guardia Civil

Crew

More like this

What are movies like Adu?

Movies like Adu include Return to Seoul (2022), Dheepan (2015) and I'm No Longer Here (2019). Of the 7 closest matches, all are films set in an immigrant community, and two are stories about estranged parents and children.

Balanced: every group counts the same, and production only breaks ties.

6 of these 7 share its subject: displacement. Those cards say what else they share.

Explore by

What else shares a premise, people or place with Adu?

1.7K other films share the rarest tag below, relationship: parent and child estranged. Each tag opens Browse with the films that share it.