We Strangers is the latest satire to brilliantly explore race and class in America. 

 

Directed by Anu Valia (Never Have I Ever), The film follows a young cleaner (played by Kirby Howell-Baptiste) who becomes so bored with catering to two upper class families that she lies about being a clairvoyant. What originally starts off as a bit to keep herself entertained and earn extra money, quickly turns into a regular service. On top of cleaning their homes, she’s tasked with using her “ability” to clean up their emotional baggage. Inevitably, she’s forced to make a decision that could cost her stability.

 

While you can read our full review for the film HERE, our very own Dempsey Pillot got the chance to chat with both Valia and Howell-Baptiste about their experience bringing the story to life and the many different meanings it has. 

 

For Valia, the film is about assimilating and code-switching. “The idea of being an incredible chameleon, being able to read a room and put on the correct mask is a superpower and can be an incredible help when needed,” she says. “But you also get that as a survival mechanism.”

She adds that the idea was truly born when she gave that characteristic to an ordinary person and explored how they might survive in a complicated, classist employer-employee relationship.

 

Howell-Baptiste also described the film as an exploration of assimilation, but added she believes it’s about what you gain and lose from joining a herd you weren’t born into. 

 

To prepare for the role, she revealed that she actually became a cleaner in Valia’s hometown too! However, that doesn’t mean you can call her a “method actor.”

 

To hear their detailed accounts of the film’s production (and more), check out the full exclusive interview below!​

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We Strangers Arrives on VOD - September 9th