Dystopian by Design: Costume Designer Deirdra Govan Isn’t Sorry to Bother You

Just watching the trailer for Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You is like taking a mini psychedelic trip. The rapper-turned-director’s dystopian fever dream may be set in present-day Oakland, Calif., but explores alternate dimensions as an allegory of the dangers of assimilation. The satirical comedy, which stars Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson and Omari Hardwick, among others, won raves at this year’s Sundance Film Festival (where Riley is an Institute alumnus) and captured the imagination of film buffs well in advance of its release today.

But while director Riley may call his film “realistic,” the buzz surrounding it is in no small part due to its surrealist look and characters. So when The Glow Up had the opportunity to talk with Sorry to Bother You’s costume designer Deirdra Govan, we were eager to dive into one of the brilliant minds behind this highly anticipated cinematic experience.