The new movie Hedda, a modern version of Henrik Ibsen’s classic play Hedda Gabler, has made its cast and creator think deeply about the story’s emotional and complex characters.
The film was directed by Nia DaCosta, who is known for adding personal ideas to her work. She said she imagined what it would be like if she, or any Black woman, lived in the world of Hedda Gabler. DaCosta explained that the movie is a mix of the old story and her own vision, set in 1950s England. She wanted to explore how a woman with power and frustration would feel during that time.
The movie stars Tessa Thompson as Hedda Gabler, a woman struggling with boredom and unhappiness in her marriage to George Tesman, played by Tom Bateman. Hedda’s life becomes more complicated when she reconnects with Eileen Lovborg, an old friend and former lover, played by Nina Hoss.
Thompson said that playing Hedda was one of the most challenging roles of her career. She shared that the story made her think about her own emotions and experiences. “This role asked me to be brave and to go to some difficult emotional places,” she said.
Nina Hoss, who plays Eileen, also said that her role made her think about how women, especially queer women, lived in the 1950s. She said she wanted to understand the connection between Hedda and Eileen and what brought them back together after so many years apart.
The film was released in theaters on October 22 and will soon be available on Prime Video. Both DaCosta and the cast said the movie is more than just a period story. It looks at how people struggle with identity, love, and control feelings that are still relevant today.
Through Hedda, DaCosta and her team hope to help audiences see that human emotions and inner conflicts never really change, no matter the time or place.
