Cannes Review: Clarissa Offers a Formally Bold Platform for Sophie Okonedo

      While it may lack the intense awards buzz surrounding Sandra Hüller’s current success, London-born actress Sophie Okonedo is poised for a remarkable comeback in 2026. Following the acclaim for Kelly O’Sullivan and Alex Thompson’s coming-of-age film Mouse at the Berlinale, and just months away from her leading role in J.J. Abrams’ The Great Beyond, Okonedo has arrived at Directors’ Fortnight with another impressive performance in Clarissa, a humorous and creatively bold adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway, set in contemporary Nigeria.

      Directed by twin filmmakers Arie and Chuko Esiri, who gained recognition with their 2020 film Eyimofe: This Is My Desire—also a Berlinale premiere that went on to win them a joint Best Director award at Africa's equivalent of the Oscars—Clarissa is set to be released in the U.S. by NEON. The film appears to continue the Esiris' exploration of capturing the dramatic essence of Nollywood cinema through an arthouse perspective—not necessarily to undermine those conventions, but to reinterpret and reassess them, akin to what filmmakers like Pedro Almodóvar and Todd Haynes have accomplished with telenovelas and soap operas.

      The pacing may take some adjustment. Music is primarily used to punctuate emotional moments (though there are several beautifully crafted establishing shots accompanied by original scores from Kelsey Lu), and the lightness in the film’s visual style reflects in the locations, predominantly vast rooms or gardens in affluent homes, alongside a steady dialogue rhythm. However, if one persists, the environment aligns seamlessly with Woolf’s aristocratic setting; particularly in the more pastoral scenes, this method becomes increasingly rewarding.

      For those unfamiliar with the story, it unfolds during the hours leading to a soirée at the opulent home of Clarissa Dalloway, portrayed by Okonedo in modern times, who skillfully balances her trademark precise line deliveries with genuine warmth. The narrative follows her throughout the day's preparations—her interactions with the staff and her mother-in-law, played by veteran Nigerian actress Joke Silva, deliver much of the humor—while often reflecting back on a pivotal summer from her early twenties (shown in flashbacks by Bridgerton’s India Amarteifio) spent with a circle of friends: including her now-elusive companion Sally (Ayo Edebiri), a young poet named Peter (Toheeb Jimoh) with whom she had a romantic link, and her future spouse, Richard (Ogranya).

      Among the supporting cast, Jimoh stands out, giving his lovesick character the same captivating presence that made him a standout in Industry earlier this year, while Amarteifio shows great promise as the next rising British talent from that popular Netflix series. Gradually, the Esiris orchestrate their narrative as the film builds toward Clarissa’s essential gathering, where all her old friends inevitably appear; including Peter, portrayed by David Oyelowo, who leaves Clarissa with a shimmering sparkle in her eye, perhaps the finest moment among the film's many close-ups. The character of Septimus, a soldier grappling with PTSD in the original novel, is represented here by a young man (Fortune Nwafor) traumatized from battling Boko Haram, and is given a slightly more peripheral role.

      Having seen Mouse (the best film of its kind since Lady Bird) in Berlin and being blown away by Okonedo’s performance, I was surprised that the film didn't enter the festival competition, let alone be featured in Directors’ Fortnight—I'm certain it will make a significant impact when IFC releases it later this year. Okonedo initially rose to fame in the late '90s and received an Oscar nomination in 2005 for Hotel Rwanda, after which she seemed to concentrate on the London theater scene. Her standout role as Ingrid Tearney in Slow Horses likely reignited her career trajectory. Clarissa concludes with another intimate close-up of Okonedo, gently swaying to a mellow funk classic in front of a backdrop of soft lights. She embodies the essence of a movie star.

      Clarissa debuted at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival and will be distributed in the U.S. by NEON.