The Lost Daughter

— Wow. This is a pretty amazing “first film.” It’s light on dialogue and heavy on glance, emotion, and atmosphere. Somehow a psychological thriller of sorts emerges, with emphasis on the psychological. Leda, a Harvard professor, has rented a place near the water on a small Greek island, planning to work and relax for the summer. The beach is quiet with the exception of a large and unsettling family that rents an oversized, pink villa every summer. A friendship of sorts forms between Leda, and a young mother from the villa who sometimes seems overwhelmed by the demands of her daughter. Olivia Coleman’s performance again demonstrates her skill which, combined with Maggie Gyllenhaal’s talent, manages to expose the pain and ambivalence felt by an unnatural mother doing the best she can but never meeting societal expectations. It’s a murky film, told internally with dark edges. It’s a very good film and well worth watching. [Netflix streaming.]

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[2021. 121 minutes. Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Starring Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, Ed Harris, and Peter Sarsgaard.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-lost-daughter-movie-review-2021