Ludi | SXSW 2021 Film Review

Shein Mompremier stars as Ludi, a Haitian immigrant nurse working tirelessly in Miami’s Little Haiti to achieve that ever-elusive “American Dream”. You know, the one bandied about on celluloid for decades and proclaimed as attainable for anyone willing to put in the necessary elbow grease? Well, it has never been that easy, and Ludi is feeling a bit defeated by it all.

Ludi is struggling to make ends meet, working multiple jobs just to get by (though she selflessly continues to send money and gifts she cannot afford back home), and because of this, Ludi has failed to even charter a visit back home. Instead, she saves money by sending recorded cassettes to her family, and now desperately wants to corral enough money to buy her niece a fancy dress for her graduation. Anyone who finds this to be a rather simple feat has never truly experienced being broke.

Ludi is forbidden from taking side jobs, but in order to afford this dress – the film’s metaphor for achievement of that aforementioned dream – Ludi takes on the private care of an elderly Jewish man named George (a wonderfully taxing Alan Myles Heyman), who is stubbornly defiant of any assistance. Ludi at first loathes George, as he represents the worst in Americans with his refusal to cooperate in any capacity. Yet as their relationship grows, Ludi begins to understand the similarities in their rather disparate life experiences.

Written by Joshua Jean-Baptiste and Epson Jean (Epson also directs), Ludi is their personal testament to both the immigrant experience and the difficulty in attaining the American Dream so many readily preach about. Ludi has to contend with various personality types as she navigates her pursuit of glory, most notably a backwards thinking bus driver who feels all Ludi needs to do succeed is “find a man”, but the film is primarily focused on Ludi’s ever present desire to live a comfortable existence.

Also notable is the brutally honest presentation of what care givers routinely contend with for less than stellar wages. My own mother was a nurse for decades, so these stories permeate my every fiber, and the incessant conflict of wanting to treat others while also caring for yourself is a daily struggle for nurses around the world. One that is often never spoken aloud, but exists in every corner of the medical field. This genuine approach to the ups-and-downs of their vocation was greatly appreciated, as this particular critic forever holds nurses in the highest regard.

It is Shein Mompremier who breathes life into Ludi, both the woman and the film. As well constructed as this presentation of Little Haiti is, Mompremier is the captivating force that draws us into her tale. There is a certain feeling – a look – one has when they are undergoing perpetual struggle. It is a presentation that I believe is only recognized if you have walked a mile in similar shoes or understand the plight of the path you are currently on. Mompremier carries that distinction in every frame of this film. From moment to moment, we can feel the frustration, determination, defeat, and perseverance. Ludi is a perfectly captured character, and deserves to serve as a star-making role for Shein Mompremier.

An examination of the difficulties inherent in that so-called American Dream, with a magnetic lead performance from Shein Mompremier. Ludi is a charming, tragic, painful, and beautiful film to behold.

Follow our further discussion on over 30 film and episodic premieres screened at SXSW 2021 via this episode of The Hollywood Outsider podcast: