Filmmaker Nia DaCosta Reimagines Classic Play with Racial and Queer Twist

In her latest film, Hedda (now on Prime Video), filmmaker Nia DaCosta has reimagined Henrik Ibsen's classic play in a way that strengthens the material. Set in 1950s England, the film follows Hedda, played by Tessa Thompson, as she struggles to find fulfillment in her life as a newlywed.

DaCosta's adaptation adds new dimensions to the character, making Hedda biracial and bisexual. The film also features a gender-swapped role, with Hedda's former lover, Eileen Lovborg, now portrayed by Nina Hoss. This change introduces an element of queerness to the story, which DaCosta felt was important to explore.

The film explores Hedda's isolation, both in terms of her gender and her race, as she navigates the male-dominated academic world of her husband, George, played by Tom Bateman. Hedda's manipulative games come to light as Eileen, now sober and in a relationship with a woman named Thea (Imogen Poots), attends a party hosted by Hedda and George.

Tessa Thompson's performance as the complex and mercurial Hedda has been praised, with the actress highlighting the challenge of embodying a character who acts on impulse and doesn't share the same fears as many people. The film's release comes at a time when conversations around the "positivity of sisterhood" are prominent, making Hedda's lack of interest in supporting other women all the more compelling.