Writer/Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal
Starring: Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson and Jessie Buckley
‘A Meaningful Masterpiece’
Not many actresses in Hollywood have earned the appreciation of Olivia Colman. Ever since her rise to recognition in the 2000’s, Colman has become a commemorated icon. Whether it’s majestic political leaders, daughters that care for aging seniors or suspects of murders, Colman has played several strong characters. Arguably, Colman’s strength as an actress is her strong commitment. She is one of those rare one-of-a-kind actresses that has often poured both her heart and soul into each and every role. Colman has never been afraid of taking risks in her career by playing complex characters that aren’t often likeable. Shining bright light in darkness, Colman has become a celebrated icon in the entertainment business. A British icon, Colman has become an actress that has managed to accomplish great movies which audiences cherish. Through her abilities to portray larger than life characters which are compelling, Colman has built a legacy which is lasting. Throughout her strong career, Colman has starred in several strong movies which are worth watching.
I’m a huge fan of Colman and admire all the films she has made in her career. However, “The Last Daughter” is my favourite. Since its release in 2021, Colman’s most personal film focus on complicated mother-daughter bonds. Packed with breathtaking production design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the finest movies ever made about dysfunctional families. At the centre of it all is an excellent performance by Olivia Colman, who plays a mother struggling to take care for her lost daughter. Ultimately, what makes “The Lost Daughter” a masterpiece is its message. The film delivers a meaningful message about childhood trauma which would resonate with everyone. A mesmerizing masterpiece about broken families, there are several reasons why “The Lo st Daughter” is a movie which is worth seeing.
Set in a seaside vacation, “The Lost Daughter” tells the story of a woman that’s haunted by a dysfunctional family. Olivia Colman plays Leda Caruso, a young woman that enjoys observing strangers. Seeking to escape the harsh reality of her past, Leda embarks on a journey toward a luxurious seaside resort. Initially, Leda looks forward to the prospects of spending time on the beach away from harsh reality. However, what appears to be a peaceful vacation soon turns nightmarish when Leda forms a strong obsession with strangers. Growing obsessed with a single mother Nina (Dakota Johnson), Leda is faced with a dilemma. Reminded of her traumatic relationship with her own daughters, Leda begins wondering whether it’s possible for her to move on from her tragic past. As all the odds are stacked against her favour, Leda begins to wonder whether it’s possible to find her identity. Haunted by her tragic past, Leda wonders whether it’s possible for her love for her vacation to last.
Maggie Gyllenhaal is a newcomer to themes of dysfunctional families. Before she had directed “The Lost Daughter”, Gyllenhaal hadn’t made a movie about mother-daughter relationships. “The Lost Daughter” was her directorial debut and first foray into the dysfunctional families genre. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the barriers endured by women that share broken bonds with their daughters, but she succeeded tremendously. Using stunning cinematography, Gyllenhaal captures life of a woman sharing a broken bond with daughters facing tragedy. Visually, the film is a feast for the eyes. Gyllenhaal effectively uses point of view shots to capture the hardships which a mother observing strangers on a beach goes through. For instance, the pour of view shots elevate the girl disappearance scene. During this memorable scene, Leda faces panic as she observes the disappearance of a young girl on the beach. One appreciates point of view shots capturing the hardships mothers raising estranged daughters go through. Point of view shots are tricky techniques to use in films. As Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws” claimed clearly, point-of-view shots enhance classic horror films about scary sharks. That being said, it works tremendously in this movie. By captivating visuals, Gyllenhaal captures the obstacles that mothers haunted by traumatic pasts are facing.
Another strong aspect of “The Lost Daughter” that contributes to its success is production. Gyllenhaal’s decision to shoot the movie in a real-life beach resort is risky but works very well. For instance, the real-life beach locale elevates the umbrella scene. During this tense scene, Leda refuses to get up from her spot on the beach beneath an umbrella leading to a frightening confrontation with a stranger. One admires the real-life resorts capturing tense hardships that an estranged mother is facing. Through these stunning real-life locations, the filmmaker captures hardships which mothers are facing. Furthermore, the musical score is magnificent. Dickon Hinchliffe’s music gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden mothers bear. Through superb production-design, Gyllenhaal captures tense hardships endured by mothers experiencing a decline.
Storytelling is one of the main reasons why “The Lost Daughter” is a captivating movie which is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and successfully uses non-linear storytelling to capture hardships mothers in estranged families are facing. Gyllenhaal’s screenwriting strength is abilities to capture tensions experienced by estranged mothers through non-linear storytelling. The movie expertly switched back and forth between separate timelines: Leda’s journey to find identity on the beach and flashbacks of her traumatic past as a parent. For instance, the non-linear storytelling elevates the traumatic childhood scene. During this heartbreaking scene, Leda is reminded of her traumatic past with her fussy daughter that misbehaved. Using these commemorated flashbacks, Gyllenhaal creates a compelling female character that audiences can easily relate to. Non-linear storytelling is a tricky technique to use in films. As Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” demonstrated, non-linear storytelling elevates commemorated biopics about the lives of historical inventors. Nevertheless, it works tremendously in this movie. Through a spectacular screenplay, Gyllenhaal captures commemorated mothers in broken families experiencing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Olivia Colman delivers one of her finest career performances as Leda. Colman first achieved appreciation for portraying queens in period pieces. With “The Lost Daughter”, however, she took on her most complicated role. It isn’t easy to portray a mother haunted by broken bonds with her estranged daughters but she succeeded tremendously. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her in the past before: intense, charismatic and emotional in her most memorable role. Colman has always had flair for communicating strong emotions through strong expressions, and “The Lost Daughter” showcases her strengths as a performer. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the best actresses working in the modern film industry today.
While the movie is mainly a stunning showcase for Olivia Colman, the supporting cast is also remarkable and worthy of appreciation. Jessie Buckley is brilliant, capturing the frustration of a mother struggling to raise daughters driving her to the brink of insanity. Dakota Johnson is dazzling, bringing charisma to a mother that faces a dilemma when her daughter’s doll is missing which causes trauma. Lastly, Ed Harris deserves appreciation. As a lonely senior, he brings heartfelt emotion to the movie
Finally, “The Lost Daughter” would earn the appreciation of everyone for capturing the lives of mothers in danger. Unlike most films about mother-daughter relationships, the movie tackles strong themes that everyone would relate to. It discusses strong themes including identity, parenting and trauma that would resonate with everyone, it delivers a meaningful message about the pressurizing challenges of motherhood that would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to share broken bonds with mothers to appreciate it. Therefore; “The Lost Daughter” is one of those rare commemorated movies everyone will adore.
Fans of Olivia Colman will definitely appreciate “The Lost Daughter” and so will movie-goers seeking heartfelt entertainment. A captivating masterpiece about mothers, it honours legacy of an actress that is iconic.
A captivating portrait of conflicted mothers struggling to fulfill the crushing responsibility of raising rebellious daughters that have a tendency for misbehaving, it’s a compelling reminder about an actress that has built a lasting legacy earning a huge fan following for her abilities to portray larger-than-life characters which are compelling in unforgettable movies which are definitely without a single doubt worth watching.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 