Directed & Written by: Clare Anyiam Osigwe
Duration: 104 minutes
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Available on: Amazon Prime
[Photo Source: IMDb]
Jade (played by actor Adele Oni) is a successful freelance photograph, and hopelessly in love with her childhood friend, Danny (played by Kadeem Pearse). Jade finds no luck in her love life and she feels that her skin tone might be the obstacle. Skin lightening creams, wigs and weave bring a little solace, but entails a series of dates with no success. A potential suitor is disappointed to meet Jade in real life, as she is darker-toned than her dating profile suggested. On the other hand, Danny prefers ‘lighties’ and a vain attempt at finding love. Meanwhile, her bestfriend Carla (played by the director) is getting married to a decent man, but feels threatened by his (lighter-skinned) ex-girlfriend.
A dermatologist and skin-entrepreneur by day, Clare Anyiam Osigwe is the writer-director-actor in this movie, and the sixth black female director to get her movie a UK cinema release. While this movie came off as an amateurish drama to have a commercial release, it presents a raw perspective on colourism and what happens when. A wide-spread issue which is underrepresented in the movies, plight of colourism is mixed with an element of romance, with certain throwaway, yet subtle remarks: “You black chicks have got to stop this fakery.” And for a film that addresses worthwhile issues in objectifying beauty- and the prejudices and stereotypes around it- it misses to strike the right chords with its viewers. In the bottom line, No Shade is a good one-time watch.
“Clare Anyiam-Osigwe’s debut about the love lives of Londoners tackles a serious issue but can’t escape its amateurish trappings.”
-The Guardian
“A witty, emotional, yet hard-hitting look at colourism in relationships. With a wonderful performance from Adele Oni as Jade, trying to navigate relationships with men who set her impossible standards while demanding she also be true to herself.”
-Sarah Cartland, Caution Spoiler
- Sreejaya Rajguru
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