Phyllis
Director: Zina Saro-Wiwa
Phyllis is a moving and atmospheric portrait of a ‘psychic’ vampire, a woman obsessed with synthetic Nollywood dramas, that lives alone in Lagos, Nigeria. The central idea of this short experimental film is the practise and significance of wig-wearing in Nollywood film; a practise the director has invested with deeper psychological as well as science-fiction layers. Underpinning this central idea however is a critique of the unforgiving treatment of single women in Nollywood and Nigeria. The film is an example of what the director, Zina Saro-Wiwa, has termed “alt-Nollywood”, a genre that plays with and reworks certain narrative, stylistic and visual conventions of Nollywood. Phyllis explores the gothic possibilities of the Nollywood aesthetic creating a new kind of low-budget atmospheric film that is very much of Nollywood and yet subverts the genre. Using Nollywood to subvert Nollywood.
Cast
In brief
Phyllis (2011) is a fantasy, drama film. The film has not yet gathered many viewer ratings. The film runs 16min. Check current streaming availability in the "Where to watch" section above.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch Phyllis online?
We're currently checking availability of Phyllis across streaming services. Availability varies; it's worth checking major platforms such as Netflix, Max and Prime Video.
How long is Phyllis?
Phyllis runs 16 minutes (16min).
What year is Phyllis from?
Phyllis was released in 2011.
