Aleshea Harris has adapted her award-winning 2016 play 'Is God Is' into a feature film, marking her directorial debut. The story follows twin sisters with burn scars who, summoned to their mother's deathbed, learn their father caused their disfigurement and are urged to seek revenge. The film stars Kara Young, Mallori Johnson, Vivica A. Fox, Sterling K. Brown, and Janelle Monáe. Harris brings her playwright's precision to the screen, using avant-garde typography and captions inspired by a 1964 edition of Eugène Ionesco's 'The Bald Soprano' designed by Robert Massin, with title design by Teddy Blanks.
The debut is significant as it showcases a Black female playwright expanding her theatrical work into film with remarkable confidence, blending Greek tragedy, hip hop, and afropunk aesthetics. Harris's approach to directing actors and her innovative use of typography highlight the cross-pollination between theater and cinema. The film's release through Amazon MGM Studios and its star-studded cast underscore the growing visibility of diverse voices in independent filmmaking, while Harris's teaching background at CalArts connects the project to broader conversations about classical storytelling and contemporary representation.