2 weeks ago
Arie and Chuko Esiri’s Clarissa is 1 of nan much intriguing titles this twelvemonth astatine Cannes. When nan movie and its formed were announced earlier this twelvemonth by Neon, which acquired world rights, nan announcement went viral. And this evening successful Cannes, nan movie received a hearty opinionated ovation pursuing its debut screening successful nan Directors’ Fortnight competition.
Shot connected 35mm movie successful Nigeria, nan movie is simply a loose adjustment of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway. The communicative follows Clarissa, a high-society female successful nan throes of preparing to big a statement astatine her location successful Lagos, wherever she will unexpectedly brushwood once-intimate friends from her youth.
The charismatic synopsis continues: “As nan group reflects connected their shared past complete nan people of a azygous night, memories of their intricate relationships, passionate love, hidden desires, and mislaid aspirations springiness emergence to a bittersweet reckoning.”
Starring successful nan pic are David Oyelowo (Selma), Toheeb Jimoh (Ted Lasso), Nikki Amuka-Bird (Knock astatine nan Cabin), and Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), who has a supporting role. The movie is led by Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda) and India Amarteifio (Queen Charlotte), who play nan title characteristic Clarissa astatine different ages. All were coming astatine nan screening this evening, excluding Edebiri.
Introducing nan film, Arie and Chuko said briefly, joking that they would time off longer speeches for their awards campaign. The duo thanked their galore collaborators who “had a hand” successful making nan movie happen. They besides described nan task arsenic a invited excuse for galore of nan cast, who person Nigerian ancestry, to return to nan country. Following nan screening, nan assemblage successful nan Théâtre Croisette gave nan movie a lengthy opinionated ovation.
Chuko Esiri penned nan screenplay for Clarissa and produced alongside Arie Esiri, Theresa Park for Per Capita Productions, and Nicholas Weinstock for Invention Studios. Co-producers see Nina Gold and Thomas Bassett, and executive producers are Okonedo, Dolly Omodolapo Kola-Balogun, Osahon Okunbo, and Jason Reif.
Arie and Chuko Esiri are coming disconnected their debut characteristic Eyimofe (This Is My Desire), which premiered successful Berlin and went connected to triumph 5 African Movie Academy Awards. The movie was released by Janus Films and is now portion of nan Criterion Collection.
Neon International is besides repping world income connected nan title.
Cannes runs until May 23.
