Nia DaCosta's 'Hedda': Tessa Thompson Leads Bold, Queer Reimagining of Ibsen’s Classic
Tessa Thompson takes center stage in Hedda, Nia DaCosta’s striking reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s 19th-century play Hedda Gabler. Set in a lavish English mansion during the 1950s, the film reinvents the iconic story with a fresh lens, infusing it with queer themes, playful energy, and a diverse cast.
Tessa Thompson stars in Nia DaCosta’s Hedda, a sensual 1950s reimagining of Ibsen’s classic play, exploring desire, power, and queer melodrama.
Courtesy of TIFF
The story begins with Hedda Gabler (Thompson), a young newlywed living with her husband George Tesman (Tom Bateman). George is eager to impress both his wife and society, yet Hedda finds little satisfaction in her marriage. Surrounded by grandeur and constant parties, she entertains herself by manipulating the people around her. Judge Brack (Nicholas Pinnock) lingers in her orbit, while household staff led by Bertie (Kathryn Hunter) prepare for Hedda’s extravagant gatherings.
DaCosta, making her fourth feature film, returns to original storytelling after several years working on established franchises. This marks her first reunion with Thompson since Little Woods, their 2018 debut collaboration. Unlike the somber tone of that project, Hedda unleashes humor, sensuality, and sharp dialogue to reinterpret Ibsen’s themes for a new generation.
Conflict intensifies when Hedda’s former lover, Eileen Lovborg (Nina Hoss), enters the picture. Eileen, now partnered with Thea (Imogen Poots), represents both Hedda’s past desires and her present frustrations. Unable to accept Thea’s influence over Eileen, Hedda seeks to destabilize their relationship. Jealousy and control become her weapons, setting off a chain of events that threaten careers, reputations, and personal stability.
Thea emerges as one of the most compelling characters, reshaped from Ibsen’s timid housewife into a quiet force of intelligence and resilience. Poots delivers a nuanced performance that contrasts Hedda’s chaos with patience and insight, exposing the games others fail to recognize.
Hoss brings charisma and wit to Eileen, embodying the allure that draws both Hedda and Thea into her orbit. The dynamic among the three women shifts the play’s original focus on men’s power to a narrative of women confronting their roles, reclaiming agency, and redefining desire.
The men in Hedda’s life struggle to assert control but remain ineffective. George and Judge Brack rely on patriarchal authority rather than genuine connection, leaving them powerless in the face of Hedda’s manipulations and the strength of the women around them.
The entire story unfolds during a single party, where comedy, chaos, and passion collide. DaCosta utilizes the sprawling mansion and its grounds to amplify the tension, creating a vibrant backdrop for Hedda’s calculated disruptions.
Hedda transforms Ibsen’s classic into a modern, provocative melodrama, showcasing Thompson’s magnetic performance and DaCosta’s inventive storytelling. The result is a sharp, sensual, and daring adaptation that reframes a timeless tale through a bold new perspective.
