Adapted from a 1897 Henry James novel, directed by Scot Mcgehee and David Siegel, to me this film beautifully captures the life of a child who's parents are getting a divorce, in the modern day. Originally set in victorian England, this film has been adapted for the big screen and set in New York.
For me New York was the perfect city to shoot this film as it shows to high powered, career driven parents, struggling with their relationship with each other as a married couple followed by their struggles after the divorce. Not only do they struggle with their relationship with each other but also with everyone around them including their six year old daughter.
The makers of the film were able to capture and subtly show how much a child see's and pick up from whats going on around them and follows through her confusion as she learns to live with constant changes in her young life. Both parents clearly love their daughter although they feel more inclined to further their career which pushes them away from their daughter. Following the divorce the parents still show their distaste for each other, while talking to Maise as they seem to forget that she is only six as they both try to put her against the others.
Maise is closer to her babysitter/nanny from the start but after marrying her father the nanny becomes more prominent in Maises life, next its the mothers turn to re marry, she marries a bar tender who quickly wins the heart of Maise much to her mothers annoyance.
As the film progresses it subtly shows the break down of the relationship Maise has with her parents, as she builds up a stronger one with her new step parents who spend more time looking after her than her parents do and ultimately end up together!
The film was shot at Maises height which gives you better perspective of what she is seeing. I think the soundtrack picked flows nicely with the film, especially the final song "Feeling of being" which is gentle, and helps to end the film in beautifully, happy way.
I have watched this film multiple times and each time a watch it I think I fall more in love with the simplicity of this film, but also the cast of this film has been perfectly picked.
Juilanne Moore Plays Susanna, Maises mother, I love Moore's portrayal of the quick tempered volatile mother, who has no problem swearing in front of her daughter and trying to turn Maise's into hating her father. The final straw for her relationship with her daughter is when she leaves for her tour as her music and career takes over.
Steve Coogan plays Beale Maises father, who is also career driven and is constantly travelling leaving his young daughter with his new wife, as a father and a husband Beale seems to be neither here nor there when it comes to deciding whats going on in his life.
Next up is Joanna Vanderham who plays margo the nanny and Beales new wife. Vanderham plays a gentle character who seems to talk very easily to motherhood and has a great relationship with Maise, although her life is turned upside down in this film.
Lincoln the bar tender and Maises new step father is played by Alexander Skarsgård, Lincoln is thrown into his new life and spends more time looking after Maise than her mother does and very quickly builds a close relationship with her. Skarsgård portrays him as a sweet and down to earth guy, who is great with kids but seems uncomfortable and uncoordinated in his own body, together with Maise they have the cutest relationship ever.
Saving best for last the actress who plays Maise is Onata Aprile. Aprile is a beautiful girl with, in my view amazing talent, she keeps her composer through out the film and easily portrays the characters emotions, she is able to create great relationships with the other actors. The main reason I love this film is because of this little girl, also each time I hear her laugh I fall more in love. Onata also won 4 awards for her role.
So if I haven't made it clear already I love this film so go check it out if you haven't seen it and if you have go watch it again.
Also this is my first ever film review I hope you guys like it.
Thanks for reading!
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