Black Panther star Letitia Wright takes on tale of refugee woes in Ireland
Letitia Wright in Aisha, the opening film of Cork International Film Festival.
Before she was a Marvel superstar, Letitia Wright made a name for herself in acclaimed dramas like Top Boy and Black Mirror. It was this versatility that convinced Irish filmmaker Frank Berry to cast her in his latest film, the moving story of a woman left in limbo by Ireland’s Direct Provision system.
Wright plays the title character in Aisha, about a young Nigerian woman who struggles to navigate the asylum system. From their first conversations about the film, Berry felt Wright would be ideal for the part.
“I’d seen her in various British dramas, and in Steve McQueen’s Mangrove, which was an amazing performance,” Berry says. “When her name was mentioned, I thought, wow, okay. But really, it was the first conversation that we had, where I knew it would be great to collaborate with her on this film. There’s a lot of harmony in the way we talk about our own individual roles in filmmaking, which is to try and tell stories that have some purpose, or would be able to create some discussion. She's very motivated by that as an artist.”
As he did in previous films including Michael Inside and I Used To Live Here, Berry took a deeply immersive approach in preparing for the project. He likes to research extensively, hearing of people’s personal accounts of the direct provision system.
“While I was researching Michael Inside, I discovered that the Irish immigration system was also run by the same department that runs the penal system, the Department of Justice, which I just wanted to know more about,” says the Dubliner.
“I made contact with a very inspiring person, Lucky Khambule, who was one of the founders of the Movement of Asylum Seekers Ireland. I went on a journey of listening and forming relationships with people. Over a period of time, a little bit like my previous films, when you're talking to a lot of people, and they start to say similar things, and they don't know each other, then the picture of what the film should be starts to emerge for you.
“A key development in my research was when I met the participants of the Mukisa programme in Waterford, which is an education and integration programme for people in the direct provision system, but also people that have been through it.”
He says his aim is to not imagine the story, but rather to absorb real-world experiences and emotions, letting them find their way into the story and onscreen.
“That's how I derive my confidence when we're making the film, because I know what we're doing is true because I've been in the environments, and I've done the primary research.”
Once the cameras actually start rolling, Berry aims to create an environment where actors including Wright and Josh O’Connor (he played a young Prince Charles in The Crown) get to bring their own skills to the table.
“I kind of get out of the way a little bit - I don't impose too much - because I feel like both Leticia and Josh have a great understanding of what we're doing. I don't really want to get in the way of that.
“It feels very authentic when it comes from within the actor, as opposed to imposing direction on top of an actor telling them do this, do that, or just using a lot of adjectives.”
Berry’s unconventional approach has helped him create some powerful dramas and it comes as little surprise that - following a post-graduate course in film production - he worked in community filmmaking, making short films with local groups.
“I evolved into community filmmaking while I was teaching (in further education). I think these films are inspired by that work, really. They come from the same place. I loved doing them.
“From that process, I made Ballymun Lullaby, which is a feature documentary that I did. It was like using the tools of community filmmaking, but on a longer film. That got a very small cinema release - but it was very significant to me, because I felt like I found my feet as a filmmaker making films the way I wanted to.
“That evolved then to a community drama, which was I Used To Live Here, a no budget community project with non professional actors. That led to Michael Inside. So it's been an evolution really, but I've managed to hold on to my my own way of working.”
Michael Inside - one of the finest Irish films of recent years - was shot on location in Cork, and Berry is looking forward to returning to the city for CIFF. As well as bringing Aisha to the city, he will take part in an industry interview about his career.
“I have such fond memories of of filming in Cork and the whole experience of making Michael Inside. Cork was a big part of that shoot actually - we filmed in Cork prison. I’ve always loved Cork, and all my films have screened at Cork. I've a strong connection with the festival and the audiences are just wonderful.”
- Following its opening night screening at CIFF on Thursday, Nov 10, Aisha will be released in cinemas and on Sky Cinema from November 17
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- For full listings and to book tickets for Cork International Film Festival, see https://corkfilmfest.org/67th-cork-international-film-festival-brochure/
