#Nikyatu Jusu’s Haunting Parable Highlights The Pitfalls Of The American Dream [Sundance 2022]

Masterfully woven into the troubling parable of “Nanny” is West African folklore — the stories of trickster Anansi and water spirit Mami Wata. Aisha manifests them in nightmares and visions. Spiders creep along her walls, and snakes slither into her consciousness, effectively distorting reality. “Nanny” is packed with aquatic imagery and Mami Wata is the culprit, calling out to Aisha, threatening to drown her in more than just despair. The film packs a punch with these visuals, the folklore a catalyst for larger themes. Jusu’s narrative uses the folktakles to powerful effect, as Aisha battles the pain of her son’s distance and the horrors rooted in her own past.

“Nanny” innovates with both lore and form: while American cinema often marks the immigrant experience through sallow-skinned exhaustion, this film never shies away from the power of vibrance. “Nanny” maintains its moody atmosphere, but makes room for Rina Yang’s lush cinematography to shine. Even in the midst of literal horrors haunting her protagonist, Jusu finds beauty and warmth in Aisha’s world. When free of the stark white walls and suffocating microaggressions of her employers’ apartment, Aisha grounds herself in community. She escapes to the beauty salon, lamenting her troubles while watching a friend braid hair. She chats with two West Indian nannies offering advice. She calls home, attends birthday parties, and even finds new love with the charming Malik (Sinqua Walls), who introduces Aisha to his spiritually attuned grandmother, Kathleen (the great Leslie Uggams). In community, Aisha finds some saving grace, grounding her in the familiar even as she longs for her son.

The film doesn’t always stride, at times meandering from scene to scene, but the end marks an abrupt change of pace. “Nanny” screeches into its final moments, which hit like a devastating gut punch. For a film that so cleverly lets it tension simmer, the ending lets some of the air out — though not enough to mar all that came before. Jusu centers cultural connectivity, building to a climax that hits suddenly, but is backed by its story. Despite her job piling on pressure and spirits blurring the lines between fear and reality, Aisha is resilient. The crux of the film questions her follow-through — what will Aisha’s strength manifest? Will she wield rage or resistance? Still tempted by the possibility of Americas fantastical dream, the answer is a bittersweet bid for reality.

/Film Rating: 8.5 out of 10