Neon has picked up twin filmmakers’ Arie and Chuko Esiri’s latest feature, Clarissa, which stars Sophie Okonedo and David Oyelowo, for a U.S. theatrical release.
Neon International will also shop the film, which has India Amarteifio, Ayo Edebiri and Toheeb Jimoh in its ensemble cast, in Berlin after nabbing the foreign sales rights. Clarissa, which was shot in Lagos and Delta State, Nigeria, is a modern take on Virginia Woolf’s classic novel Mrs. Dalloway.
Okonedo plays society woman Clarissa as she prepares to host a party at her home in Lagos where she will unexpectedly encounter once-intimate friends from her youth. As the group reflects on their shared past over the course of a single night, memories of their intricate relationships, passionate love, hidden desires, and lost aspirations give rise to bittersweet reckoning, according to a synopsis from the producers.
The screenplay for Clarissa was written by Chuko Esiri, who directs and produces the film with Arie Esiri. The Nigerian directors 2020 debut feature, Eyimofe (This is My Desire), followed two people trying to make it in Africa’s largest city.
Producer credits on Clarissa are also shared by Theresa Park, Nicholas Weinstock, Nina Gold and Thomas Bassett, while Okonedo, Dolly Omodolapo Kola-Balogun, Osahon Okunb and Jason Reif will executive produce.
Production financing came from Africa-based Afreximbank Creative Africa Nexus and MBO Capital. The acquisition and distribution deal was negotiated by Neon’s director of acquisitions, development and production Kate Gondwe and UTA Independent Film Group on behalf of the filmmakers.
