Director Tayarisha Poe and Kiersey Clemons Discuss Their New Film “The Young Wife”

Director Tayarisha Poe and actress Kiersey Clemons discussed their upcoming film, “The Young Wife,” a film that offers a fresh and unconventional take on the traditional wedding movie. The film will be released digitally on May 31, 2024, and follows a young lady, Celestina (Clemons), as she navigates the swirl of emotions and pandemonium on her “non-wedding” day.

Poe, known for her distinct visual storytelling, explained how she crafted the film’s unique style to mirror its unconventional narrative. “Yeah, we turned the visual style acid expressionism and we really were influenced by the art that artists would make when dropping acid first of all and just the vibrancy of it and the Prismatic visual language created through that and through that experience and then also just expressionism, we wanted this film to be expressionistic,” Poe said. “We were concerned with the emotions that people were feeling and visually and sonically representing those emotions for the audience to latch on to and really paint their own emotions.”

Clemons, who delivers a compelling performance as Celestina, shared some personal insights and advice she would offer to her character. “I would say I think she f*cked up from the get-go like why did you make an invite how are you going to make an invite and then be like but it’s not a birthday party but it’s not a wedding,” Clemons revealed. Reflecting on her character Celestina, Clemons added, “We’re watching this person unravel, and we don’t necessarily see her put herself back together; instead, we see her move on, possibly towards the next unraveling.”

Poe also disclosed that there were alternate versions of Celestina’s character and storyline that were considered during the development process. “Yeah totally very many alternate versions many Pathways that she could have taken of course it’s like but it’s like with life, you know there’s literally no use thinking oh my God, what if I had done this oh my God, what if I had done that it’s like it’s done,” Poe said. “Once you’ve gone down a path the other paths are gone they’re done so when I think about different versions or different edits of a film or like different potential ways that a character’s art could have gone even if I wrote them even if we shot them even if we edited them together if they got cut they’re done.”

Watch Director Tayarisha Poe and Kiersey Clemons’ Interview Below!

The film also stars Leon Bridges as Celestina’s soon-to-be husband, along with a talented ensemble cast including Kelly Marie Tran, Michaela Watkins, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Judith Light, has been praised by critics for its intimate and visually stunning portrayal of a woman’s emotional journey. Screen Rant described the film as “intimate, profound, and visually gorgeous.”

“The Young Wife” will be available on digital platforms starting May 31, 2024.