By John Corrado
A century after it was first published, Virginia Woolf’s 1925 novel Mrs. Dalloway gets a contemporary adaptation from filmmaker brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri, who find a fresh angle by setting their version in modern day Lagos, Nigeria.
Sophie Okonedo stars in the film as the titular Clarissa Dalloway, who is preparing to host a big dinner party at her home with husband Richard (Jude Akuwudike). As she prepares for the arrival of her guests, including old friends Peter (David Oyelowo), Sally (Nikki Amuka-Bird) and Ugo (Danny Sapani), Clarissa reflects on her younger years.
These memories are woven into the film through flashbacks, showing the young Clarissa (played by India Amarteifio), connecting with younger versions of Richard (Jable Osai), Peter (Toheeb Jimoh), Sally (Ayo Edebiri) and Ugo (Kehinde Cardoso). The similarities between the older and younger actors are pretty striking, with the film letting us see these characters as idealistic young adults, while simultaneously showing where they each end up.
The story’s themes about class struggles give way to discussions about colonialism, with the Esiri brothers updating elements to offer a portrait of modern day Nigeria. This includes updating the post-WWI backdrop of the original book to the fight against Boko Haram, including a supporting storyline involving Septimus (Fortune Nwafor), a young soldier in the Nigerian military who is facing PTSD.
The film can feel like it meanders a bit too much, and does run long at 134 minutes. But the relaxed pace and deeply felt performances do help immerse us in Nigerian life, then and now, as does the lush 35mm cinematography by Jonathan Bloom. The ensemble casts, both young and old, do fine work throughout, and what the actors each subtly bring to the final moments of the film allow Clarissa to resonate.
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