Aisha is a lovely, quiet film about a young Nigerian woman who is seeking asylum in Ireland. Letitia Wright gives a strong performance as Aisha as she patiently navigates all the hurdles to her being granted safety in Ireland.

Back in Nigeria, Aisha’s father and brothers were murdered in her home. She was raped. She and her mother escaped. Her mother is now hiding out in Lagos, and Aisha is meticulously taking every bureaucratic step needed to be granted a stay and safety. Aisha sends her mother money regularly and calls her often.

Ireland has places where immigrants waiting out the system are lodged. Sometimes they can find jobs while in these places, sometimes not. When we first meet Aisha, she’s in a place where she can work as an assistant in a hair salon. She loves the work and she loves earning her own money.

Conor (Josh O’Connor) is working as a security person in the first location Aisha is in. They form a tentative friendship. As Aisha is moved from one location to another and deals with one frustrating hurdle after another, Conor sticks by her side and helps her cope.

They do care for each other and appreciate each other, but it’s an impossible situation. Aisha has no way of knowing if she’ll be given asylum or sent back to Nigeria, where she will surely be killed. So she and Conor keep their friendship at a kind and helpful level, not not a physical level.

Letitia Wright gave a powerful performance in this film, which was written and directed by Frank Berry. She’s a nuanced actress with the ability to convey any emotion.

The film is a simple story about a woman’s strength, endurance, and hope. It isn’t action packed or full of thrills, but It’s well worth watching. It’s currently streaming on Prime Video and Tubi.