- Tessa Thompson delivers a fiery performance as the manipulative antihero in ‘Hedda,’ a modern take on the classic Henrik Ibsen play.
- Directed by Nia DaCosta, the film is set at a debaucherous 1950s party where Hedda schemes to ruin her competition.
- The plot ignites with the arrival of Hedda’s former lover and academic rival, Eileen (a “transcendent” Nina Hoss), who becomes the target of her malicious games.
- Hailed by critics as intelligent and stylishly vicious, the film is being called a must-see cinematic event you won’t want to miss.
A Fiery Reimagining of a Classic Villain
In a lush and vibrant 1950s England, one of literature’s greatest schemers is reborn. Director Nia DaCosta brings a deliriously fun, intelligent, and impassioned spin to Henrik Ibsen’s classic drama with “Hedda.” The film, which works entirely on its own terms without prior knowledge of the 1890 play, stars Tessa Thompson in a gripping performance as the titular Hedda, a master manipulator who is brilliant, charming, and “catastrophically bored.”
The Ultimate Party Crasher: Hedda’s Sinister Plan
The entire film unfolds over the course of a single, increasingly chaotic, martini-fueled party. Hosted by Hedda and her prim academic husband, George Tesman (Tom Bateman), at their stunning country estate, the gathering is meant to celebrate their return from a long honeymoon. However, Hedda has far more than small talk on her mind. Her primary goal is to ensure her husband secures a coveted promotion to lift them out of debt, and she is willing to destroy anyone who stands in her way.
A Rivalry Reignited with Malicious Intent
Hedda’s cruel game takes on a new level of intensity with the arrival of Eileen Lovborg (Nina Hoss). Eileen is not only competing for the same academic post as George, but she also happens to be Hedda’s former lover. Hedda is devastated to learn that Eileen is now sober, in a new relationship, and on the verge of publishing a culture-changing manuscript. Eileen clearly deserves the promotion, but for Hedda, that is simply unacceptable. What follows is a devastating and gleeful campaign of psychological warfare.
A Masterclass in Manipulation
Thompson portrays Hedda as a whip-smart charmer with a wicked glint in her eye, a perfect antihero whose subtle sociopathic impulses are both horrifying and exhilarating to watch. You can’t help but understand why people fall under her spell, even as she pulls the strings to ruin their lives. On the other side of this toxic dynamic is Nina Hoss, who delivers a transcendent performance as Eileen. Hoss gives a subtle, affecting portrait of relapse as Eileen naively trusts Hedda one last time, leading to a brilliantly staged and cruel public embarrassment.
Don’t Miss This Cinematic Gem
While the film is getting a quick jump to streaming on Prime Video just a week after its theatrical debut, viewers shouldn’t let that deter them. Critics are hailing “Hedda” as a meticulously designed and fiery thriller. For those who enjoy watching a brilliant character’s descent into gleeful menace, “Hedda” is an unmissable and stylish cinematic event.
“Hedda” is rated R for “sexual content, brief nudity, language and drug use” and has a running time of 107 minutes.