Veteran Nollywood actress Joke Silva has been selected among the Nigerian actors chosen to appear in Clarissa, an upcoming American drama film directed and produced by Arie Esiri and Chuko Esiri.
The movie is a modern take on Virginia Woolf’s 1925 novel Mrs Dalloway. It tells the story of a society hostess preparing for a gathering while confronting memories and past relationships. Filming took place in Lagos and Delta State, and the cast includes both international and Nigerian actors.
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Joke Silva is part of a Nigerian cast that features Chioma Omeruah (Chigul), Chuks Joseph, Ego Boyo, Norbert Young, Timi OJ, Kehinde Cardoso, Ovunda Ihunwo, and Eric Emeka.
They star alongside international actors such as Sophie Okonedo, David Oyelowo, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Danny Safani, Fortune Nwafor, Joy Sunday, Ayo Edebiri, India Amarteifio, and Toheeb Jimoh.
The filmmakers say the project keeps the novel’s focus on memory, societal expectations, and communication, but sets the story in a modern context.
The film is a character-driven drama that follows the original’s single-day timeline.
Clarissa is the second feature film from the Esiri brothers. Their first film, Eyimofe (This Is My Desire), premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2020 and brought them international recognition.
The film is funded by African sources, including Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus programme and Lagos-based MBO Capital. Neon will handle theatrical distribution in the United States and manage international sales.
