His Three Daughters

This is more of a play than a film. It's talky and claustrophobic, to the point that when at last it moves to an outside scene, you almost feel like you're breathing in cold fresh air.

Interest is sustained throughout, not so much by way of events, as by the interactions of the three very different sisters, and the few peripheral characters that surround them. Dealing with the impending death of a parent, this will (maybe) touch a nerve with some, and give others more fortunate (maybe) an insight to the dynamics to be expected. But I did not find it at any time morose or Maudling or over emotional, the occasionally amusing scenes kept it in check.

My only criticism was near the end, where a 10 minutes or so scene, could/should have been omitted IMO. For me it just interrupted the flow and broke the rhythm of the previous hour+.

Sitting in on a loved one's death watch can be a trying time in more ways than one can count, circumstances that many of us can probably relate to all too well. It can be an especially stressful, even hostile, experience when incompatible family members are brought together for such an ordeal, one whose duration and developments are impossible to predict. That's the scenario here faced by three very different (and often-contentious) sisters (Carrie Coon, Elizabeth Olsen, Natasha Lyonne) who begrudgingly join together for the waning days of the life of their father (Jay O. Sanders), who has been placed in home hospice care. During this reluctant, duty-bound "reunion," tempers routinely flare in confrontations stemming from the rehashing of old, unresolved issues, disagreements about current responsibilities, and the seemingly endless waiting for the inevitable to arrive. These matters all wear on the distraught siblings as they struggle to sort out what's transpiring and try to arrive at better, more civil understandings of one another. In his latest feature outing, writer-director Azazel Jacobs has created an authentic story about what often occurs under such difficult conditions, astutely blending intense drama, scathing personal interactions, dark humor and hopes for reconciliation against a backdrop of edgy anguish, searing emotional pain and pervasive uncertainty. The picture's crisp writing and stellar performances (especially Lyonne's stand-out portrayal) drive the unfolding of this gripping domestic saga, often leaving viewers uncomfortably squirming in their seats as raw, long-repressed feelings surface. To be sure, some of the transition sequences in the narrative could use better refinement to get the overall story on track for what follows, but, then, their handling in this manner could arguably be chalked up to the ubiquitous doubt lingering over this situation, a determination that audience members will have to make for themselves. Still, "His Three Daughters" is indeed one of the better releases of 2024 thus far, one that deserves serious consideration as awards season approaches, particularly in the writing and acting categories. It's also a powerful cautionary tale for any of us who may be faced with having to undergo a scenario like this at some point, providing us with valuable insight into how we might want to conduct ourselves when these trying times arise.

We saw this movie at an industry preview. Katie, Christina, and Rachel come together in their father's NYC apartment when he's at the end of life and in hospice care. They are very different souls, all well scripted and well-acted.

The eldest is intense and overbearing, the youngest is dissolute and (seemingly) aimless, the middle child moved to California and became the proto-Cali mom.

Conflict is rampant as the sisters try to negotiate their differences. The movie wanders through the dialogue among the three, the boyfriend of one (a great scene), and the recurring presence of the oddly unempathic hospice coordinator. It's talky and set almost entirely in the dad's apartment, but maintained my interest.

The movie ambles to a conclusion that's both surprising and subject to widely different interpretations that may not be to everyone's taste. I bought in, especially as it becomes clear which child was the father's favorite.

My main criticism is that the three sisters' characters borders on the stereotypical. Borders, but doesn't quite slide over the edge.

I had no idea what His Three Daughters was about going into it and that's usually the way I like it. As someone who has had a parent go through the hospice care experience with two of my brothers I was pleasantly when I realized what the film was about. Some of that delight eventually faded away when I then realized that this film's depiction of hospice is not entirely accurate. Rather than an ignorance of hospice I'm guessing this misrepresentation was for dramatic effect. My issue is that I don't think the changes were necessary and things could have worked quite well with a true representation. Nevertheless the story as is mostly works. As for the performances they are mostly solid with Coon and Olsen both turning in excellent performances. As for Lyonne, she played a character a bit close to her type for me but was fine. The story does create a range of emotions for the viewer but is a rather somber experience throughout. Towards the end of the film the realism disappears as a bit of fantasy is interjected into the story which was completely unnecessary and almost derails the whole project. Despite this misstep His Three Daughters is worth checking out.

I love small chamber films where the key elements are acting, the script, and masterful direction. Such films resemble theatrical plays and usually capture the viewer's attention from the very beginning, holding it until the end.

«HIS THREE DAUGHTERS» is just such a film.

This is a wonderful family drama with brilliant performances by all three main actresses. Seriously, I think they all deserve at least an Oscar nomination. They are the main reason why this movie turned out so well; their chemistry on screen is just off the charts.

Additionally, the skillfully written script, excellent dialogue, and the development of each sister make the on-screen action incredibly interesting and exciting. Each main character is completely different, with her own life and unique problems that the viewer begins to understand throughout the film. It is impossible not to sympathize with each sister; every character is well-crafted, compelling, and powerfully portrayed!

I give my highest recommendations to all lovers of chamber films and powerful acting.

8/10

P. S. Elizabeth Olsen is a Goddess!