I remember when I watched Marriage Story, even before it really got into the film, I knew it was going to leave me shattered, some sort of hunch from the little I knew about the film, that is the poster and who was in it. But with those trivial details, within the first 5 minutes of the film, I was already afraid for my heart. I felt the exact same sinking feeling when I watched the opening scene of His Three Daughters. Of course, with that title and the poster, it’s more likely than not you can tell that this is going to end badly; it’s going to be melancholic, but you could also think, “Here’s yet another film that tries to take on the concept of grief.” His Three Daughters is a film that will bring to the forefront all of your overwhelming emotions. It’s so raw and natural that you might feel like you’ve pulled back the curtains and are looking into the neighbor’s house, or worse, like you’re watching your own family suffer, but from the outside.
This film centers around three estranged sisters, Katie, Christina, and Rachel, who come together in an apartment in New York to look after their ailing father. Amidst the challenges of his care, they confront their own past conflicts, striving to repair their fractured relationship. His Three Daughters is much more layered and nuanced than it sounds. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the portrayal of grief so raw and impeccable in a film before. I mean, sure, we’ve all cried watching movies, but that’s not because they feel like the whole thing was literally pulled out of you and then thrown up on a screen for everyone to look at. It’s almost like a projection, despite being so conceptually unique. What I mean by this is that despite not having two sisters I can’t stand, there’s something in this film that I truly connect with. I feel it inside my bones, and I have a feeling many of you will agree. To put it plainly, you might find this movie relatable.
Everyone reacts to grief differently; this is something we’ve been hearing all our lives, but how does one illustrate that concept and make it feel all-encompassing? By making His Three Daughters. I know I already made comparisons to Marriage Story, but this is specifically because I found the slightly warm-toned lighting and over-the-top stage play-like acting align with that film. The film, which is almost wholly shot in one room, feels claustrophobic in the best ways and makes every second count. There’s a haunting sense of dread right from the start, and as the three main characters of the film grow more on edge, so do we as an audience. When’s that glass finally going to shatter?
It seems I’ve never seen anything by writer-director Azazel Jacobs before, and I want to change that immediately after watching this one. I can’t imagine this film was easy to write, and to be able to understand the feelings of each of these characters is truly incredible. And in the same way, I can’t imagine it would’ve been any easier to perform these characters who are hurting deeply. Charming Carrie Coon plays Katie, the strong-headed eldest daughter who wants to take on every task on her own with no delegation and all the pressure in the world. I know how it can be; I’m the eldest daughter. Then there’s Rachel, always high and seemingly never interested in what’s actually happening, played by the astounding Natasha Lyonne. I guess she often plays the oddball, but I can also see why. The youngest, Christina, is played by Elizabeth Olsen, and I would be lying if I didn’t say this was one of my favorite performances of hers. She’s occasionally funny, and she has the advantage of being the youngest, so she is able to capture the room better than the other two. She’s always the moderator.
There’s hardly anything negative I can say about His Three Daughters. It’s a film that made me feel so many feelings; I could’ve thought there was something wrong with me. Maybe the one complaint I have is that it wasn’t long enough, but how much more will you drag out a concept like this, no? Now, I’m going into spoiler territory, but there is this one piece of dialogue that has stuck to me since I watched the film, and I can’t seem to let it go.
Christina is telling her estranged sisters about a night she spent with her dad watching a movie with a death in it, and she explains how he thought the movie was crap. I won’t give away what he actually says after that because it will take away from the beautiful moment, but make sure you take notes because it’s absolutely beautiful. If you’re not someone who likes drama films that are dialogue-driven, then I wouldn’t recommend His Three Daughters. But then again, I wonder if the film is so good it might actually make you like something that usually doesn’t interest you. No, His Three Daughters is never boring, and it’s occasionally really funny, sometimes over-the-top but brilliant all in all, so maybe give it a try?
If all of that hasn’t piqued your interest, then know that my throat still aches 3 hours after watching the film because every time I think about it, I choke up. I guess, at the end of the day, there’s something real about this film, but it never feels forced on you. It’s also not preachy or judgmental; it simply tells the story of three imperfect women who are striving to remind each other of who they are while dealing with a terrible truth that’s brought them together. I’d give His Three Daughters 4 out of 5 stars, and the minus 1 is only because I can’t be rating a sad movie higher for mental health reasons (I’m joking, please forgive my Zillennial brain).
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