Zola
Zola

Zola

2021Movie86 minEnglish

A waitress agrees to accompany an exotic dancer, her put-upon boyfriend, and her mysterious and domineering roommate on a road trip to Florida to seek their fortune at a high-end strip club.

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Insights

IMDb6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes84%
Metacritic71/100
Google Users74%
Director: Janicza BravoGenres: Comedy, Drama, Crime, Thriller

Plot Summary

An unforgettable, stranger-than-fiction true story, Zola is a wild, surreal, and hilarious journey. This wild tale follows Aziah 'Zola' King, a Detroit waitress, who is lured into a 48-hour trip to Florida by a new acquaintance, Stefani, for a dancing and escorting gig. What begins as an exciting adventure quickly spirals into a chaotic and unpredictable series of events, pushing Zola to her limits.

Critical Reception

Zola received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising its bold and unique storytelling, vibrant visuals, and standout performances, particularly from its lead actresses. The film was lauded for its unflinching portrayal of online culture and its darkly comedic exploration of ambition and desperation.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its inventive and darkly comedic take on a viral Twitter thread.
  • Celebrated for its vibrant visual style and Taylour Paige's captivating performance.
  • Noted for its audacious and sometimes jarring depiction of social media culture and its consequences.

Google audience: Audiences generally found Zola to be a wild, entertaining, and visually distinct film, with many appreciating its connection to the original viral Twitter thread and the performances of the lead actors. Some viewers found the film's extreme situations and tone to be overwhelming or difficult to connect with.

Awards & Accolades

Nominated for Gotham Independent Film Awards for Best Feature and Best Screenplay. Received nominations for Independent Spirit Awards including Best Female Lead and Best Supporting Female.

Fun Fact

The film is based on a viral 148-tweet thread by Aziah 'Zola' King, which was published in 2015 and quickly became a cultural phenomenon.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

3 reviews
r96sk

r96sk

Different, but I actually liked it. <em>'Zola'</em> takes a few scenes to get into it and to get used to the stylistic choices, namely with the editing and dialogue, though by the end I did in fact enjoy this film. It's a bonkers story, ...
beyondthecineramadome

beyondthecineram...

Full review: <a>https://www.tinakakadelis.com/beyond-the-cinerama-dome/2021/12/28/american-nightmare-zola-review<a> Janicza Bravo’s long-awaited star of Sundance, _@zola_, could not feel more timely, despite the year-long delay. Adapted ...
Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

Louisa Moore - S...

“You wanna hear a story about why me and this b--ch here fell out? It’s kind of long but full of suspense.” On paper (or on an iPhone screen), “Zola” sounds like one of the worst ever ideas for a feature-length film. Based on a real-life...