Dakota Johnson New Movie The Lost Daughter Review

Movie Review

Humanizing "bad" parents is a difficult task. Perhaps this is due to the personal nature of the subject; After all, each of us is someone's daughter or son, we have some complaints from childhood.

 Regardless, parents are held to a high standard, and moms in particular don't let go. But what happens when Maggie Gyllenhaal takes a quick look at a mom who can't handle the demands of parenthood? The director asked, "Can we blame him?" What happens when you ask?

  Gyllenhaal is adapting Elena Ferrante's 2006 novel of the same name for her directorial debut, Lost Girl. Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley play the older and younger versions of Leda Caruso, respectively.

Storyline 

 Leda, a professor and translator, takes her summer vacation to a beach in Greece. He is alone, but memories of his daughters haunt him when he notices Nina (Dakota Johnson), a young mother with a young daughter.

  Nina's struggle with her daughter reminds Leda of raising two daughters, Bianca and Martha. Each memory plunges us deeper into the pain of motherhood. Although there are no sweet moments between Leda and her daughters, Gyllenhaal is careful to emphasize that the joys of motherhood in Leda's work do not necessarily compensate for the sorrows.

  The psychology of Colman's character immediately impresses. The 48-year-old woman does what she wants, even to the point of embarrassment or rudeness. But flashbacks to his old life show that he doesn't always allow this freedom. With two daughters, a busy husband and an incredible job, she was forced to step aside - as a young mother, Leda herself was not allowed anything. That is, unless you take extreme measures. Unless he's a "bad" parent.

  It's absolutely compelling that Lost Girl forces its audience to relate to and sympathize with a woman whose actions are objectively despicable by society's standards. But Gyllenhaal, with Ferrante's novel, boldly indicts the same society that puts mothers in an impossible position.

  It's never clear what the deal is with Nina's family. However, the roles they play in the film are essential to Leda's development.  

  What is clear, however, is Leda's complex relationship to her daughters and the wider world. Her story is a poignant, if not always pleasant, feminist message to a world that often portrays the responsibilities of mothers as black and white.

Overall 

  "Lost Daughter" is not an easy watch. But even at crawling speed, it's compelling. As it draws you into its ominous environment to explore the complex world of motherhood, you'll quickly discover that all is not as it seems. Ferrante's poetic vision, Colman's captivating performance, and Gyllenhaal's intelligent direction combine to make Lost Girl one of the best films of the year.