As the title suggests, this is a re-imagining of the Ibsen classic, but the only elements from writer/director Nia DaCosta’s version are the basic bones of the plot (and much of that has been reworked). This version takes place on a fabulous estate during one long elaborate party. Tessa Thompson is magnetic in the title role, while Nana Hoss matches her dramatic power as the love/hate interest. DaCosta has created a decadent world where everything is presented in grand operatic style with side glances, furtive encounters and epic emotions. It’s to the point where she’s pushed reality into melodrama in a very artificial way. While the final scenes are the film’s most powerful, the extended shots and long pauses make this more an experiment in stylistic presentation than an examination of the story’s emotional power. 
(1.5 / 5)
