LOS ANGELES — Nia DaCosta’s latest film, “Hedda”, delivers a bold and hypnotic reinterpretation of Henrik Ibsen’s iconic play “Hedda Gabler”, turning the 19th-century drama into a sleek psychological thriller driven by power, desire, and self-destruction. Anchored by striking performances from Tessa Thompson and Nina Hoss, the Prime Video release reframes the story with a modern cinematic pulse that is as elegant as it is unsettling.
A Haunting Opening and a Shift in Perspective
The film begins with a chilling image: Hedda (Thompson) slowly sinking into a river, weighed down by stones — until a phone call from Eileen Lovborg (Hoss) pulls her back to the surface, both literally and emotionally. Moments later, Hedda is on the terrace of her lavish manor firing a shot near Judge Roland Brack (Nicholas Pinnock), her late father’s friend. From the outset, DaCosta sets a tone where death, control, and unraveling desire swirl in steady orbit.
Nia DaCosta Moves Ibsen Into the 1950s
DaCosta’s adaptation radically reimagines the play. Instead of late-19th-century Norway, “Hedda” unfolds in 1950s England, condensed into the intense hours of a grand evening party hosted by Hedda and her new husband, George Tesman (Tom Bateman). The event is meant to secure George a coveted university professorship — a plan quickly threatened by the unexpected return of Eileen Lovborg.
Lovborg, now partnered with writer Thea Clifton (Imogen Poots), is competing for the same academic post, backed by a groundbreaking book on the future of sexuality. But beneath the professional rivalry lies a more volatile truth: Hedda and Eileen once shared a devastating, passionate relationship, ruptured when Eileen walked away. Now, Hedda sees an opportunity — to elevate her husband and simultaneously dismantle the hopes of the woman who once shattered her.
A Story of Power, Games, and Emotional Fallout
DaCosta’s version keeps Ibsen’s thematic core intact — manipulation, jealousy, constraint — but injects it with fresh tensions around identity, race, and creative ambition. Thompson’s portrayal brings a layered, volatile Hedda whose brilliance and despair clash in every gesture. Hoss provides the perfect foil: composed, wounded, and determined.
The result is a richly cinematic retelling that feels both timeless and urgently contemporary.
FAQs
1. Is “Hedda” faithful to Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler”?
It remains loyal to the play’s emotional architecture but relocates the story to 1950s England and reframes character dynamics for a more modern audience.
2. Who stars in the film?
The film features Tessa Thompson as Hedda and Nina Hoss as Eileen Lovborg, with supporting roles from Tom Bateman, Imogen Poots, and Nicholas Pinnock.
3. What makes Nia DaCosta’s adaptation unique?
She blends period drama, psychological thriller, and character-driven tension, adding racial and social layers absent from the original.
4. Where can I watch “Hedda”?
The film is available exclusively on Prime Video.
5. What themes does the film explore?
Power, desire, emotional manipulation, ambition, psychological conflict, and the destructive pull of unresolved past relationships.
