Nanny Review

Streaming review

I have a deep love of stories. I think it’s fascinating to find new and interesting ways to relate to the world through the stories people think are important to pass on, including folk tales or fairy tales. But I will also admit that most of the tales that I am most familiar with are those from America and Europe. I have a far more limited knowledge of folk stories from Asia or Africa, which helps pique my interest in movies that feature those stories. This week, I am looking at the first feature film from writer and director Nikyatu Jusu, “Nanny,” currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

Aisha (Anna Diop) is an undocumented immigrant from Senegal beginning a new job as a nanny in New York so she can make money to bring her son to live with her. Her employer Amy (Michelle Monaghan) is thrilled to have her and is impressed with Aisha’s level of organization. When Amy’s husband Adam (Morgan Spector) arrives home from one of his photography trips, he also is impressed with how she is teaching their daughter Rose (Rose Decker) French and getting her to eat, despite being a picky eater.

But as time goes on, the shine begins to fade. We see microaggressions like suggesting a much lower rate for an overnight stay or “forgetting” to pay Aisha in a timely manner to more outright aggressions like an unwanted kiss or an outburst for feeding Rose food that is “too spicy.” This is all against the backdrop of increasingly disturbing dreams invading both Aisha’s sleeping and waking moments.

This is a fascinating film because it never quite goes where you expect it to go. Rather than acquiescing to the poor treatment from her employers out of fear of being turned over to ICE or some other immigration enforcement agency, Aisha stands her ground, refusing to allow poor treatment to go unchallenged. As such, the horror never shows up the way American audiences have come to expect. Rather than the affluent white family being the source of the horror, the true horrors are found in the Mami Wata, the water spirit of the African enslaved people who were thrown overboard the ships of those who kidnapped them from their homeland. The horror is more atmospheric than the kind where you want to scream or cover your eyes, but it is unsettling nonetheless.

Diop’s performance in this is absolutely beautiful. Her character displays strength and compassion and grief and joy and determination, all with beautiful clarity. Monoghan and Spector create a fantastic backdrop for all of that to play against.

What is truly fascinating about this movie is that while I share no obvious traits with the main protagonist, through Jusu’s gorgeous filmmaking, I am able to find aspects of my own story. Regardless of the origins, the story of a parent simply wanting to be reunited with their child is universal.

This originally appeared in The Dominion Post on January 14, 2023.