Movie - Nappily Ever After from Haifaa al-Mansour

Nappily Ever After is a 2018 movie adapted from the book series Nappily by Trisha Thomas, first published in 2000. I found it interesting that Haifaa al-Mansour, the film director, is the first woman from Saudi Arabia to become one. She has directed other movies revolving women's issues, specially in her home country.

In the beginning of the movie, we are introduced to Violet Jones (Sanaa Lathan), who was convinced by her mother (Lynn Whitfield) from a young age that her natural Afro hair was not beautiful and she had to wear it straightened at all times in order to look perfect. Due to this pressure, Violet was never able to let herself go and be a spontaneous kid like the ones around her. 

Fast-forward to the present, she lives with her boyfriend, Clint (Ricky Whittle), a doctor, has a successful job as a marketing executive and good friends. However, even as an adult, she is still obsessed with her hair and limits her life by the way it looks.

Just before her birthday, Violet sees a small box inside of a closet and thinks Clint will propose on her special day. Her mother comes to the house in the early morning to help her style her hair and look her best when the big moment comes.

When Violet's family and friends are later reunited at dinner, she learns that the little box was actually a collar for her brand new Chihuahua. Her disappointment is visible, and when she confronted her boyfriend, he tells her something that really hurt her feelings: "Being with you is like being in a two-year first date". 
Clint stated that he didn't really know Violet underneath all her self-image obsession and because of that, they weren't ready for marriage. 

This is a turning point for Violet. Angry and upset, and with Clint out of the picture, she does something on a whim after a crazy night when she had too much to drink. Something she never thought she would be able to do. But was it really impulsive or had she been preparing herself for it?

For what is worth, that decision has serious consequences in many aspects of Violet's life and she begins to understand what is really important to her. 

I found this movie very relatable and it's not just about hair - It's about women complying with society's standards by focusing on looking their best, and losing their true self in the middle of the process. It portrays the struggle of Black women to accept their natural hair in a world where the idea of beauty is long straight hair.

It's about insecurities and the fear of being who we are without thinking about who's looking. Because, in reality, no one really cares and the most important thing is learn to accept ourselves in the moments we aren't all dolled up. 

The movie has its faults as I didn't enjoy some of the acting, but overall it's a feel-good watch for a summer afternoon... or for when you're frustrated over a bad haircut.

Rate:4/5