Nana Mensah, Meeko Gattuso, Oberon K. A. Adjepong
Writer-director-actor Nana Mensah delivers a warm, witty and compassionate comedy with Queen of Glory, her acclaimed feature debut.
Sarah (Mensah) is a PhD student whose future is thrown into disarray by an unexpected death in the family and an ensuing surprise inheritance in the Bronx. Tasked with funeral planning, Sarah must navigate both the cultural expectations of her Ghanaian-American family and the reappearance of her estranged father (Oberon K.A. Adjepong) whilst deciding what to do about her future.
Written, performed and shot on a tiny budget by Mensah, Queen of Glory feels indisputably authentic, vividly evoking the energy of New York, the weight of cultural and familial expectations and the microaggressions faced by people of colour on a daily basis, delineating the immigrant experience in a way that’s both specific and recognisable. A winning and thoughtful story, it’s a remarkable debut and a great showcase for Mensah’s talents.