It is hard to keep secrets in a small town. Yet, when secrets are revealed, they can shatter the the lives of all who are involved.
Overall Rating: 2.25 stars
Cinematic rating: 2 stars
Bigger questions rating: 4 stars
For all of the people who have grown up in small towns where the main industry fails and the community begins to die, The Daughter is an ode to you. This tale of overlapping lives exposes the devastation of a small logging community at the announcement of the local mill closing. The experience is bitter-sweet for the owner, Henry (Geoffrey Rush), who in the midst of the shutting down of the mill is in the process of getting remarried. The turmoil at the mill and the upcoming nuptials of the community leader shows how the people of the town are involved in each others lives beyond the logging industry. Also, the festivities welcome the homecoming of Christian (Paul Schneider), the son of Henry and his first wife. As heir to the dying town's sole industry, he attempts to avoid his father and his new bride by reconnecting with his former mate, Oliver (Ewen Leslie), his wife, Charlotte (Miranda Otto) and their spirited daughter, Hedvig (Odessa Young). Christian's journey back into his past brings out secrets of his life and exposes the mysteries of the town that many people wish would remain buried.
Director Simon Stone stays the course of the Australian drama and slowly stamps out any inclination of hope or joy in the the lives of the characters in The Daughter. Not to be misunderstood, the story provides a robust cast of characters and drama that manages to capture the small town atmosphere. The dynamics of the two central familial units provide a good foundation for a multi-layered tale of relationships, but it is this dark reality that becomes the undoing of the plot. Similar to August: Osage County and other stage productions that are brought to the screen, there fails to be any light and shade to provide relief from the harsh realities of these blood relations. Each layer of the tale rips open old wounds of multiple characters and never allows them to truly heal. This leads to feelings of hopelessness and depression.
Even within the darkness of the drama, it is buoyed by some compelling performances. Paul Schneider delivers one of his most convincing roles as the damaged and venomous Christian. He manages to maintain and develop the role through each scene. At first he looks to be a pitiable individual, but proves to be the poison that pollutes the lives of all who come into contact with him in this small logging community. These connections lead to some of the most explosive aspects of the story. Other characters of note would be Sam Neill (Jurassic Park) and Geoffrey Rush who effectively provide the opposing elder statesmen positions within the narrative, but the heart of the film is given to the compelling Odessa Young. Her portrayal of Hedvig pushes the story along and with each step in the her loss of innocence, she manages to show the underlying message of the need for family and community.
REEL DIALOGUE: What are some of the bigger questions to consider from this film?
What do we do when life seems to be falling apart around us? Job, family and community issues are out of our control in many ways. Companies fail, people make bad choices and sometimes circumstances cannot be avoided. How does God help us during these times? The Bible offers the answers to these questions. Not with the elimination of difficulty and strife, but with the peace and solace that come through a relationship with God.
Questions
1. What is sacrificial love? (John 15:13, Ephesians 5:25)
2. Is life mysterious? (Colossians 2:1-3, Matthew 13:11-13)
3. Does God care about my life? (Matthew 6: 8, 26)
Leaving the cinema...
The acting and direction were well executed, but the delivery was one of the most depressing films of the year.
Trailer for the film
Written by Russell Matthews based on a five star rating system @ Russelling Reviews #russellingreviews #thedaughter
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