AISHA -- Letitia Wright and Josh O'Connor Lead Tepid Social Realist Drama

Review by Sean Boelman

Hot off the success of Challengers, Josh O’Connor has another film hitting theaters and VOD — although this one premiered all the way back in 2022 at the Tribeca Film Festival. Aisha is strong in many ways, like its lead performance and themes, but the movie is a little too laid-back to reach its full potential.

The film follows a young woman stuck in Ireland’s immigration system as she forms an unlikely friendship with a formerly incarcerated man, only for their uncertain futures to come in the way of their bond. While this is a story we have seen told dozens of times before, it remains relevant in its themes. Unfortunately, the perspective is not interesting enough to make the movie stand out. 

Even though Aisha clocks in at only around an hour and a half before credits, the film feels like it drags. It’s clear that Berry wants this to be cut from the same social realist cloth as masters like Ken Loach, Mike Leigh, or the Dardennes, but it lacks the guttural, punchy qualities of those masters’ work. Its pace is a little too relaxed for its stakes to resonate.

Still, some of the more pivotal moments of the script are written in such a way that they undeniably convey the devastation of the immigration crisis in Europe. Although it hits many of the expected beats required to make an immigrant story feel impactful, it never feels like a tear-jerker in a way that would make it feel unnatural.

Much of the movie’s success rests on the shoulders of lead actress Letitia Wright, who gives a very powerful performance. It’s unusual to see a film of this genre with an established star in the lead as opposed to more of a newcomer, but Wright manages to infuse the character with the necessary authenticity to make the story work.

More unfortunate is how much Josh O’Connor’s talent was wasted in this role. Granted, this made its festival debut in 2022, so you have to give it some leeway, but by then, he’d already been in The Crown, God’s Own Country, and so many other projects affirming his talent. For him to be stuck in a role as monotonous and meaningless as this is unequivocally disappointing.

Still, these issues are due to no fault of O’Connor’s own. His role is little more than a subplot to the protagonist’s main arc. It’s understandable why that immigrant story is the focus — it is the much more pressing social issue. It’s clear that they are attempting to draw a parallel between these two broken souls, but the way they do it comes across as forced at best and short-sighted at worst.

Aisha is a solid movie thanks to the strength of its lead performance and its positive message. Although the film undeniably means well and has some important messages on its mind, something is missing that prevents it from having the level of weight that a movie about this topic should easily carry.

Aisha hits theaters and VOD on May 10.

Rating: 3/5