“Drift,” directed by Anthony Chen, opens with the serene image of footprints on the shore gradually being washed away by the advancing waterline. This scene sets the meditative tone for the film, which follows Jacqueline, a Liberian woman living in Greece, as she navigates her life in a state of flux and vulnerability.
Jacqueline’s backstory is gradually revealed through flashbacks, indicating her affluent upbringing in Liberia and subsequent flight to London due to conflict. However, the film fails to provide adequate context for the conflict in Liberia, leaving viewers uninformed unless they are already familiar with the country’s history.
Throughout the film, Jacqueline faces challenges related to her Blackness, as she is perceived as a phantom by white vacationers and faces scrutiny from the local authorities. Her encounters with Ousmane, another African man, add complexity to her narrative but are not fully explored.
The most authentic aspect of the film is Jacqueline’s relationship with Callie, an American tour guide, which allows Jacqueline to gradually reveal her vulnerabilities. However, Jacqueline’s character feels constrained by the script’s portrayal of her as meek and helpless.
Overall, “Drift” suffers from a lack of development and fails to engage viewers due to its sparse script and slow pacing. The film’s focus on moments of dour violence feels exploitative and detracts from its exploration of human aftermath and trauma.