Aisha (2022 film)
| Aisha | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Frank Berry |
| Written by | Frank Berry |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Tom Comerford |
| Edited by | Colin Campbell |
| Music by | Daragh O'Toole |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Sky Cinema |
Release dates |
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Running time | 94 minutes[1] |
| Country | Ireland |
| Language | English |
Aisha is a 2022 Irish drama film written and directed by Frank Berry. The film stars Letitia Wright and Josh O'Connor.
Nigerian refugee Aisha Osagie develops a close friendship with former prisoner Conor Healy. Their friendship, however, soon looks to be short lived as Aisha's quest to be granted asylum in the Republic of Ireland comes under threat.
Aisha had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on 11 June 2022, and was released in the United Kingdom on 17 November 2022, by Sky Cinema.
Plot[edit]
Nigerian refugee Aisha Osagie is finally is given her interview to argue her case to stay after living in the Republic of Ireland over a year.
In Aisha's refugee accomodation centre, they are treated unkindly. When a woman and her family who Aisha is close to are abruptly deported, she is devastated. She misses her bus into work one morning thanks to the guards being slow to give her an important letter. Aisha's not allowed to cook halal meat in the kitchen although she bought it with her own earnings...
An immigration lawyer helps Aisha prepare for her upcoming asylum-seeker interview. She must give as much detail as possible about the incident provoking her request. Aisha tells him about a group of debt collectors who came after her father and brother.
The centre's night security guard Conor Healy and Aisha become friends. First, he lets her cook her halal meat in the kitchen, then they talk about themselves on the bus into town, as she goes to work at the beauty salon and he heads home.
The guards cannot fraternise with the refugees, so Conor turns off the security camera when they are together. One night, Aisha goes to talk to him, but has to leave before another comes in. In the morning, Conor tells her she can count on him when she needs to talk.
Aisha is abruptly transferred to a far off centre the next afternoon. She has to quit the salon job, can't see her immigration lawyer and contacts Conor, so he sees her off. Although wanting to help Aisha get settled, she thinks their friendship must end. The new isolated facility doesn't offer any possibility for her to use her work permit. She has been labeled insubordinate and she shares a living space with an Asian woman.
At her immigration interview Aisha reveals she is married, but he disappeared one day. She paid a trafficker to get her passport, tourist visa and passage to Ireland. Her father and brother were killed because they couldn't pay back money for her university fees. The money lender suggested Aisha prostitute herself to pay him back and sexually assaulted her.
Conor finds Aisha at the interview site, remembering when it was scheduled. Outside, he talks to a guy he met in prison. Conor explains he was an addict, who has been out for six years and clean for three.
A few days later, Aisha's asylum request is denied. She breaks the news to her mother, but requests an appeal. Conor turns up, and tells her he has feelings for her. Although Aisha does too, she doesn't feel she has any future. Soon after discovering her mother has died, Aisha requests emergency passage to Nigeria for the funeral, but is told it would invalidate her asylum request.
Upset, Aisha starts breaking things in their unit. Deemed uninhabitable, she must pack up and go. Aisha gets sent to another remote location, where she is to stay in a multibed dorm room. Shortly after a call with her immigration lawyer, she gets herself hit by a car. Conor comes to find Aisha in the hospital. She can't tell him why she stepped in front of the car, but she agrees to let him go the hearing, although he must wait outside. They slept in a hotel room holding hands the previous night.
At the hearing, Aisha again explains her whole family was murdered and she was gang raped due to their debt for her uni studies (which she couldn't even complete). Her lawyer emphasizes Aisha's potential danger, as her mother was hunted down, although she'd been hiding 300 km. away. One of the interviewers states that the Nigerian government should be responsible for protection, in cases like hers.
Aisha points out the two years wait time as a refugee is excessive. Then, outside the room, she and Conor say goodbye with a kiss. When her appeal is again denied, Aisha goes into town. Conor introduces her to his mother, and she consults with solicitor Peter Flood. He believes they could take it to high court, but it could go either way.
Cast[edit]
- Letitia Wright as Aisha Osagie
- Josh O'Connor as Conor Healy
- Lorcan Cranitch as Peter Flood
- Denis Conway as Brendan Close
- Stuart Graham as Francis Manning
- Ian Toner as Liam Cantwell
- Ruth McCabe as Mrs. Keegan
- Dawn Bradfield as Michelle Campbell
- Theresa O'Connor as Deirde O'Dea
- Rosemary Aimiyekagbon as Moraya Osagie
- Emmanuel Hassan as Abdul Momoh
- Yemisi Ojo as Bes Emenaha
- Antionette Doyle as Habiba Momoh
- Tara Flynn as Catherine Levy
- Florence Adebambo as Ruykaya Momoh
- Aisling Reid as Louise Sheeran
Production[edit]
In March 2021, it was announced Letitia Wright and Josh O'Connor would star in the film Provision written and directed by Frank Berry.[2] Principal photography began in April 2021.[3] In June 2021, the film was renamed Aisha.[4]
Release[edit]
Aisha had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 11, 2022.[5] It also screened at the BFI London Film Festival on October 6, 2022.[6][7] It was released in Ireland and the United Kingdom on November 17, 2022, via Sky Cinema.[8]
Reception[edit]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 15 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10.[9]
Michael Nordine of Variety praises Wright for her performance, and the film for its naturalistic style, and concludes "The result isn't quite Kafka, but it’s closer than it should be."[10]
References[edit]
- ^ "Aisha". Tribeca Film Festival. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (March 18, 2021). "Letitia Wright, Josh O'Connor to Star in Irish Refugee Feature 'Provision' (Exclusive)]". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production - Provision". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2021.
- ^ Grater, Tom (June 1, 2021). "First Look At Letitia Wright In Drama 'Aisha' Co-Starring Josh O'Connor; Cornerstone Boards Sales". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ^ Goldsmith, Jill (April 19, 2022). "Tribeca Festival Lineup Includes 'Corner Office' With Jon Hamm, Ray Romano's 'Somewhere In Queens', More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
- ^ "Aisha". BFI London Film Festival. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
- ^ Tabbara, Mona (September 1, 2022). "BFI London Film Festival 2022 unveils full line-up". Screen International. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
- ^ Barfield, Charles (October 5, 2022). "'Aisha' Trailer: Letitia Wright Is A Nigerian Woman Struggling To Navigate Immigration In Upcoming Drama". The Playlist. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
- ^ "Aisha". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on March 25, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2023.
- ^ Nordine, Michael (June 12, 2022). "'Aisha' Review: Letitia Wright Shows Her Range in Irish Immigration Drama". Variety. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
