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Neon releases trailer for 'Clarissa', Nigeria-set 'Mrs Dalloway' adaptation, due in December

Neon has released the first trailer for 'Clarissa', Arie and Chuko Esiri's Lagos-set loose adaptation of Virginia Woolf's 'Mrs Dalloway', which it will release in the US on December 11.

2 outlets · 1L · 1C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: IndieWire
Image: Deadline

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The story, neutrally told

Neon has released the first trailer for Clarissa, the second feature from brothers Arie and Chuko Esiri, and is set to release it in the US on December 11. The film, shot on 35mm in Nigeria, is a loose adaptation of Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway, set in modern-day Lagos, where the brothers grew up. Its story follows Clarissa, a high-society woman preparing to host a party at her Lagos home, where she unexpectedly meets once-intimate friends from her youth; the official synopsis describes a night of reflection ending in a 'bittersweet reckoning'.

Sophie Okonedo and India Amarteifio play Clarissa at different ages, with David Oyelowo, Toheeb Jimoh, Nikki Amuka-Bird and Ayo Edebiri, who has a supporting role, also starring. Chuko Esiri wrote the screenplay and the film is produced by the Esiris, Theresa Park for Per Capita Productions and Nicholas Weinstock for Invention Studios. Clarissa premiered at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight section and was a Queer Palm nominee, according to IndieWire, which says it is only the second Nigerian film to premiere at Cannes.

The Esiris' previous film, Eyimofe (This Is My Desire), premiered in Berlin, won five African Movie Academy Awards, was released by Janus Films and is now in the Criterion Collection. In Cannes interviews quoted by IndieWire, Arie Esiri said Nigerians talk about politics 'like the British talk about the weather', and Chuko Esiri described a new wave of artistically minded Nigerian filmmaking distinct from Nollywood.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left1 outlet

Framing
Festival-circuit angle: Clarissa as a Cannes Directors' Fortnight favourite, with the filmmakers' own views on Nigeria and Nollywood.
Emphasis
Cannes pedigree, Queer Palm nomination, Nigerian cinema's place and the brothers' interview quotes.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not give the synopsis, producers or the Esiris' earlier film Eyimofe.
Charged language
“gem”“Cannes favorite”
For example
““Clarissa” emerged as a gem from the Directors’ Fortnight section.” — IndieWire
““[Nollywood] is something that I am not really interested in engaging with,”” — IndieWire

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Trade-style release announcement led by the trailer, cast and date.
Emphasis
Cast credits, synopsis, producers and the directors' previous film Eyimofe.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the Cannes premiere or the directors' comments on Nigeria.
Charged language
“starry”
For example
“Here’s the first trailer for Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri’s starry second feature” — Deadline
“The film was released by Janus Films and is now part of the Criterion Collection.” — Deadline

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.