Nigerian-born twin filmmakers Arie and Chuko Esiri have unveiled the trailer for Clarissa, their modern-day Lagosian reimagining of Virginia Woolf’s 1925 novel Mrs Dalloway. The trailer offers a first look at a film steeped in romance, memory and the complexities of relationships, translating Woolf’s classic story into the world of Lagos high society.
The 2026 drama centres on Clarissa, a Lagos high-society woman preparing to host a party at her home. What begins as an elegant social gathering becomes an encounter with the past when Clarissa reconnects with people who were once deeply significant to her. Memories of love, friendship, ambition and choices made decades earlier begin to surface throughout the night.
The film features an international ensemble, including Sophie Okonedo as Clarissa and India Amarteifio as a young Clarissa; David Oyelowo as Peter, Clarissa’s former lover, and Toheeb Jimoh as young Peter; Nikki Amuka-Bird as Sally, Clarissa’s estranged friend, and Ayo Edebiri as young Sally; and Danny Sapani as Ugo, Clarissa’s friend, with Kehinde Cardoso as young Ugo. Joke Silva also features in the cast.
A particularly notable element of the film is its visual approach. Clarissa was shot on 35mm film in Lagos and Delta states, with cinematographer Jonathan Bloom behind the camera. Chuko Esiri has described the choice as part of an ambition for the film to stand alongside great works of modern cinema, while also emphasising the importance of African institutions financing stories set on the continent.
The film had its world premiere at Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes on May 16, 2026. NEON will release it in New York and Los Angeles on December 11, with additional cities to follow.
Following its Cannes premiere, the film received positive reviews from publications including The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap and Screen Daily. As of October 2, 2026, it holds a 95% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 20 reviews.
For the Esiri brothers, the film represents another step following their acclaimed debut feature, Eyimofe (This Is My Desire), but this time on a larger international canvas: bringing English literature into conversation with contemporary Nigerian life.
Image source: Chicago International Film Festival.
