Movie Review: Zola

Zola (2021) 

Directed by Janicza Bravo 

Written by Janicza Bravo, Jeremy Harris

Starring Taylour Paige, Colman Domingo, Riley Keough, Nicholas Braun

Release Date June 30th, 2021 

Published August 21st, 2022 

Zola is a breath of fresh air in modern cinema. Based on a larger than life story from a Twitter thread, of all places, Zola tells a story of modern sexuality, female friendship, empowerment, and the American sexual marketplace in a suitably surreal fashion. The film was adapted and directed by Janicza Bravo, an exciting new filmmaker whose candy colored visuals are a lovely comment on the dark, almost neo-noir story she’s telling. 

Zola stars newcomer Taylour Paige as Zola, a waitress and part time exotic dancer, who meets and falls in lust with Stefani (Riley Keough), a customer at the Hooters style restaurant where Zola works. Whether or not the attraction between Zola and Stefani is sexual in nature is up to your imagination, however the film keeps the nature of that fluid in a manner that recognizes how so much of millennial culture is based on sexual fluidity. 

The surreally captured scene of Zola and Stefani vibing with each other crackles with tension and excitement and is a terrific set up for the story about to be told. Zola and Stefani exchange phone numbers and text messages and soon enough, Stefani invites Zola for a weekend of getting paid easy money, touring strip clubs in Florida. Stefani claims that she has a hook up who can get them stage time at a series of popular clubs for good money and Zola is eager for the money. 

Things, naturally, take a turn once the trip actually begins. Stefani has invited her boyfriend, a dupe named Derrek (Nicholas Braun), who is certainty in love with Stefani and blind to how Stefani truly feels about him. Also joining in on this journey is a man Stefani calls her ‘roommate,’ Zola has no idea what his name is. The roommate is played by Colman Domingo and he immediately gives off the impression that he is a bad dude. 

Zola is right to be suspicious as soon after they arrive at their cockroach infested Florida motel, the Roommate takes them to the club and leaves poor Derrek behind. He then books a separate room at a much nicer hotel and when the girls are done stripping, they are shown to this room where the real purpose of this so-called ‘ho trip’ is revealed. Zola must find a way to fend for herself while also looking out for Stefani, even if it is all Stefani’s fault that Zola is in this mess. 

The real A’ziah ‘Zola’ King was made to be a social media star. With her natural wit and charisma, it’s no surprise that her 2015 Twitter thread about this ‘ho trip’ to Florida became an immediate sensation. King captures the way young people talk in frank and uncompromising terms. She’s fully self-possessed and brilliantly detailed in her storytelling and that Janicza Bravo captures that unique, brash, and fresh voice so perfectly is what makes Zola the movie so remarkable. 

The movie makes sex work look borderline mundane and yet dangerous all at once. As Zola navigates this bizarre trip, taking mental Twitter notes the whole way, she is both a figure of motherly concern for Stefani and a very pissed off co-worker. Taylour Paige embodies the bizarre dynamic of Zola beautifully as her attitude tells us more than any dialogue ever could. Her suspicion of Stefani and her ‘roommate,’ her being completely over the whole sex work dynamic that Stefani has brought upon the trip, and her strong sense of self-protection and wit, are a refreshing way to experience a character. 

You might suspect a movie based on a Twitter feed would be thin and not particularly artful but you would be assuming wrong about Zola. Zola is brimming with wit and invention. It’s a frank and bitter dark comedy and simply a well told story from beginning to end. The characters are fascinating and the performances are uniformly brilliant, each bringing a different and electric energy to the movie. Taylour Paige is a revelation as Zola, a rare fully formed female character on the big screen. For such a young actress to be this assured and charismatic is a true wonder to watch. 

Then there is director Janicza Bravo whose work is the equal of her young star. Bravo has complete mastery of her aesthetic and a remarkably well placed confidence in her actors. Zola is an exceptional announcement of a new directorial talent. Based on this confident, smart, exciting movie you can't help but be excited about what Janicza Bravo will do next.