Nanny
author - director Nikyatu Jusu , in her feature directorial debut , masterfully marries folkloric horror with a haunting character study and analysis of the American Dream . There are so many moving parts withinNanny , coalescing to bring an overall moving , effective portrayal of the immigrant experience in America , and the grief of allow for one ’s abode and loved ones behind .
Aisha ( Anna Diop ) is a Senegalese immigrant who takes up work as a nursemaid for Amy ’s ( Michelle Monaghan ) girl Rose ( Rose Decker ) in New York City . She works ( and overworks ) as she tries to raise enough money to bring her unseasoned boy Lamine ( Jahleel Kamara ) to the U.S. to survive with her permanently . As her workload increase — and her extra time hour go uncompensated by Amy — Aisha grows all the more frustrated as her promise to Lamine start to sound empty . Meanwhile , Aisha begin to hear and see things around her that blur her world and intensify her feelings and struggles .
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Jusu imbuesNannywith supernatural and spiritual elements that aid in realize Aisha ’s headspace , the unease she so often feel as an foreigner , and the incessant pain that goes along with the emotional toll of get care of someone else ’s child while she ’s ineffectual to properly like for her own . These supernatural aspects manifest in disconcerting way of life , jeopardize to consume Aisha in the strong-arm world — the audio of water rushing down , flood Aisha ’s senses , the trace of a wanderer ’s pegleg as it crawl nearer and closer , the creaking of the room access that alerts her to something , even if she ca n’t quite make sense of the sign . These affair together bring the write up to an vivid , moving conclusion , but they are also the parts of the narrative that could ’ve been more developed .
WhenNannyis exploring Aisha ’s experiences as a Senegalese immigrant , the disparities in treatment and fairness as an employee to a affluent , snowy American family , and the adversity of being a mother to one child while hold to leave hers behind , the film is recherche and nuanced . Jusu offer vituperative commentary about the American Dream , which , as one character points out , is more like “ mould until you die . ” Through Aisha , the film also turn over into the subtle racialism she postulate with and the struggle to be paid what she deserves when Amy attempts to take vantage of her time . The score by Tanerélle and Bartek Gliniak is eerie and intense , beautifully engage together with the level to create a discrete atmosphere .
The through - blood line about survival and heeding the house of warning are all the more heartbreaking when contextualizing it within the model of the American Dream — Aisha is so overworked and eject that she is n’t capable to concentrate on them . Jusu spend a penny the case that endurance alone is n’t enough , but that properly survive and forging a path in the U.S. as a migrator also get at a monetary value . By process in African folklore like Mami Wata , a piss spirit , and Anansi the Spider , who often prevails against enemies that are seemingly hard , Nannyelevates its central character and paper in ways that make for an piquant and achingly beautiful viewing experience . Nannydoes put down off a bit as it gets closer to its ending , but picks back up again with urgency .
The film ’s haunting nature is made all the more so by Anna Diop ’s gorgeous characterization of Aisha . Through her eye alone , Diop convey the hollow aching Aisha feels when address with Lamine and the grit of a survivor whose thwarting and sadness pulse just beneath the surface , all while her slightly slumped shoulder screech of weariness . Her carrying into action is aided by the fact that Jusu wrote a multidimensional character who has a tremendous amount of deepness . Nannycould’ve easily tried to give further brainstorm into Monaghan ’s Amy , but maintains Aisha ’s perspective throughout without having to get involved in the former ’s household play .
While the horror could ’ve been expand upon further and used to great burden along with its cardinal secret plan , Jusu , with the help of cinematographer Rina Yang , who employs near - ups of Aisha to carry her feelings of disquiet and separation from her surroundings , ferment in a stunning introduction feature . Nannyis hit over and packs an emotional punch , grounded by a phenomenal , nuanced performance by Diop . It ’s the form of repugnance film that lingers on the thinker and captivates quite thoroughly in its blending of supernatural and character drama , offer up a ocular experience that can be unbelievably breathless when it ’s at its strongest .
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Nannypremiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival . The film is 97 minutes long and is not yet stag .
