Virginia Woolf’s works are gaining renewed attention in the film industry. Soon, audiences will experience Tina Gharavi’s fresh adaptation of Woolf’s humorous novel “Night and Day.” Meanwhile, Nigerian filmmakers Arie and Chuko Esiri have presented their interpretation of “Mrs. Dalloway” at the Cannes Film Festival. This adaptation unfolds as a captivating, melancholic drama featuring strong performances and an impressive musical score. The narrative is set against the backdrop of contemporary Lagos, showcasing its vibrant streets, as well as the serene landscapes of Abraka, Nigeria, from three decades ago.
The film explores themes of life choices, the painful reality of marrying the wrong partner, and the struggle to reconcile with the past without regret. Unlike Stephen Daldry’s 2002 film “The Hours,” which also draws from Woolf’s work, this adaptation flows with a more natural and unreserved rhythm. The film transitions seamlessly between the past and the present, often utilizing the classic device of a photograph from the past rediscovered by its aging subjects.
Sophie Okonedo stars as Clarissa, whose last name is omitted from the title, a point of contention among her younger self and her friends. In the modern setting, Clarissa is portrayed as an elegant middle-aged woman preparing for a reunion party with friends, some of whom hold deeper connections from her past. She resides in a beautiful home in Lagos, where she maintains a firm yet fair demeanor towards her staff—unlike her late father, who was known for humiliating them in front of young Clarissa and her peers. Clarissa’s husband, Richard (Jude Akuwudike), is a decent but unremarkable man working for Shell, which serves as a constant reminder of her disillusionment rooted in her anticolonial beliefs from her youth.
Among her party guests is Peter (David Oyelowo), a once-promising writer who lost his inspiration and the love of his life in his early twenties. Now dressed with a worldly flair that masks his enduring sense of failure, Peter struggles with the weight of his missed opportunities. Also joining the gathering is Sally, portrayed by Nikki Amuka-Bird, who is now a mother, a role she may not have anticipated in her youth.
Flashbacks to Clarissa’s childhood home in Abraka reveal a younger Peter (Toheeb Jimoh) engaging in a passionate yet secretive relationship with a delicately portrayed Clarissa (India Amarteifio). Caught between her attraction to Peter and her uncertainties regarding his literary potential, Clarissa navigates a complex emotional landscape. We also meet a younger Sally, played by Ayo Edebiri, who exudes a magnetic and rebellious charm, expressing her attraction to Clarissa. However, Clarissa’s cautious nature may prevent her from fully exploring this connection, complicated further by the simultaneous presence of Peter in her life.
Clarissa’s current friendships are primarily with those who lack painful histories, including her supportive friends and her formidable widowed mother, Maryam, portrayed by Joke Silva. This narrative intertwines with that of a troubled soldier, Septimus (Fortune Nwafor), whose wife works for Clarissa. As Septimus battles depression and PTSD under the care of a therapist married to one of Clarissa’s friends, a complex connection emerges, as Clarissa’s father was a senior military officer. Septimus grapples with his admiration for his staff sergeant, who is troubled by the orders to engage Boko Haram with inadequate resources, revealing themes of corruption and violence.
The film poses questions about the impact of Septimus’s tragic fate on the group, suggesting a sacrificial element to his character. His sorrow seems to resonate with the others, creating a haunting presence that connects their lives across different contexts. While the film does not provide tidy resolutions, it prompts both Clarissa and the audience to confront their first-world dilemmas amidst the challenges faced in a developing nation. The Esiri brothers have crafted a visually enchanting and thought-provoking narrative.
“Clarissa” premiered at the Cannes Film Festival.
