
Nia DaCosta’s new film, Hedda, is a visually striking, though occasionally uneven, take on the classic story of Hedda Gabler. Tessa Thompson delivers a powerful performance as Hedda, a strong-willed woman married to the gentle academic George Tesman (Tom Bateman), who is vying for a key university role. His main competition comes from Eileen Lovborg (Nina Hoss), a brilliant writer and Hedda’s former lover. The story unfolds in a beautiful English country house in the 1950s, during a party where Eileen and her partner, Thea Clifton (Imogen Poots), are guests. However, the night takes a tragic turn. Adding to the tension is Judge Roland Brack (Nicholas Pinnock), who tries to manipulate and seduce Hedda. The film opens with Hedda dramatically shooting at him with a pistol from the roof of her estate – a moment that perfectly captures her captivating and dangerous allure.