Filmmaker Nia DaCosta Defies Categorization

Tonya Mosley interviews director Nia DaCosta about her new film "Hedda," a reimagining of Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler," set in the 1950s with a mixed-race protagonist. DaCosta discusses her approach to adapting classic works, incorporating themes of race, gender, and societal constraints. The conversation explores DaCosta's career, including her work on "Candyman" and "The Marvels," her aesthetic choices as a director, and the influence of her mother on her artistic journey. They delve into the themes of freedom, conformity, and the cyclical nature of history reflected in her films, as well as her experiences navigating the film industry as a Black woman. The episode also includes a review of Linda Mae Han Oh's new album, Strange Heavens, by jazz critic Martin Johnson.