Zola: A Wildly Entertaining And Feverish Thotyssey
Writer/director Janicza Bravo breaks through to the mainstream with her wildly entertaining sophomore feature, Zola. Based on a viral Twitter thread by Aziah "Zola" King (who also executive produced) and David Kushner’s piece in Rolling Stone, "Zola Tells All: The Real Story Behind the Greatest Stripper Saga Ever Tweeted,” the film takes audiences on a darkly comedic and feverish thotyssey that captures the heart of this stranger-than-fiction tale and casts quite a spell.
Zola (Taylour Paige), a Detroit waitress, strikes up a new friendship with a customer, Stefani (Riley Keough), who seduces her to join a weekend of dancing and partying in Florida. What at first seems like a glamorous trip full of "hoeism" rapidly transforms into a 48-hour journey involving a nameless pimp, an idiot boyfriend, some Tampa gangsters and other unexpected adventures in this wild, see-it-to-believe-it tale.
In October 2015, Detroit waitress Aziah "Zola" King posted a 148-tweet thread about a “hoe trip” she took on a whim with a stripper named Jessica to Florida. The story was full of twists and turns, details about sex work, murder, and an attempted suicide, and it quickly went viral. From the first line, King gets you to lean in as she teases the rollercoaster to come: "Y'all wanna hear a story about why me & this bitch here fell out? It's kind of long but full of suspense." Fittingly, these are the very words that open Janicza Bravo’s hilarious and hypnotic adaptation, and much like King’s Twitter thread, it draws you in and wraps you up in the catastrophic calamity that ensues.
Bravo and co-screenwriter Jeremy O. Harris make slight variations to King’s original tale, most of which helps to deepen the story and the unspoken bond shared between its two primary leads, Zola (Taylour Paige) and Stefani (Riley Keough). In King’s thread, there wasn’t much motivation (aside from money) for her to impulsively take a nearly 1200 mile road trip with someone she hardly knew. Bravo and Harris concisely shade in Zola and Stefani’s relationship in the first act of the film. Through their introduction, we see they have a mutual attraction, which is largely unspoken but still clear and resonate. It’s in the way they look at one another, the way Bravo blocks them together, and the films wonderful sound design that subtly (and unsubtly) telegraphs information about the characters and their relationship.
Bravo and Harris also have the pair share a wild night out after their first encounter at Zola’s restaurant to strengthen their bond and showcase their chemistry, which is abruptly interrupted by the alarm-bell sound of Stefani’s ringtone. We also see Zola in her natural environment, at home with her boyfriend, and through Taylour Paige’s terrific expressions, we also see that she’s a bit bored in this place and looking for adventure. So, when Stefani reaches out randomly about dancing for money in Florida, Zola doesn’t ask many questions. She just quiets her man with some TLC, packs her bags, and heads on down to The Sunshine State with a stranger and two of her companions, Stefani’s gangly and oafish boyfriend, Derrek (Nicholas Braun), and mysterious “roommate” named “X” (Colman Domingo), whose American accent morphs into African under stress.
Zola clearly didn’t know what she was signing up for, and unbeknownst to her, she becomes entangled in a prostitution scheme that she’s forced to be an accomplice to, which leads to a whole slew of antics, both dark and humorous, that are better left unspoiled. At its heart, Zola is a film about manipulation and how seeking adventure can sometimes blow up in your face, changing you forever. We know from moment one that Zola and Stefani had a falling out, and by the end of this harrowing, yet hilarious trip, we fully understand why. For a film that’s about sex work and someone potentially being roped into sex trafficking, it’s deceptively light and fun — but there’s always something about it that’s unsettling or discomforting. It excellently balances the playful allure of the internet with the trauma of being stuck in an unsavory situation. Unfortunately, it’s totally lacking an ending, which makes you wonder what this twisted thotyssey was all for. We can feel Zola’s exhaustion, but it’s hard to tell if she’s really changed forever as a result, which King’s Twitter story clearly stated.
There’s a hypnotic dreaminess to the film’s tone and construction, which casts a deceptive spell that lures you into the unraveling nightmare. There’s also a Wizard Of Oz vibe to the film, as Zola is whisked away from her mundane life (which feels monochrome by comparison) by a tornado of a human being who transports her into this dark, yet colorful place, which impacts her immensely. The whimsical, dreamlike score from Mica Levi creates a wonderful harmony with Bravo’s tone and lush visuals. Bravo has a strong eye, an affinity for small details, and a terrific idiosyncratic approach that brands her as a talent to keep your eye on; however, it’s the film’s excellent performances that hold Zola together. Keough full leans into the role and has a lot of fun, but its Paige’s reactions to the constantly unfolding madness that made it laugh-out-loud funny.
Recommendation: If you haven’t seen it already, Zola is a wild ride that’s well worth the watch! It’s a feverishly fun, hilarious hoot of a “hoe trip” that casts a wickedly delicious spell.
Rating: 4 likes outta 5.
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