The Daughter (2015 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Founder | Simon Stone (writer and director) |
| Products | Drama film |
The Daughter is a 2015 Australian drama film both written and directed by Simon Stone, starring a distinguished cast led by Geoffrey Rush. It was released in Australia on 17 March 2016 and garnered mostly positive critical feedback. The movie is an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's 1884 theatrical work, The Wild Duck.
Plot
Christian Nielsen, who is recovering from alcoholism, travels back to Australia from the United States to attend his father Henry's wedding to Anna, a significantly younger housekeeper. Christian harbors resentment toward Henry due to the belief that his father neglected Christian’s ailing mother, which he holds responsible for her eventual suicide. He strongly opposes the upcoming marriage.
Upon reconnecting with his childhood friend Oliver, Christian meets Oliver’s wife Charlotte and their daughter Hedvig. He discovers that Charlotte once briefly worked as Henry’s housekeeper and had an affair with him. When Christian confronts Charlotte about this, she advises him to leave the past behind. After Christian’s partner ends their relationship over the phone, he succumbs to drinking again. At the wedding reception, intoxicated, he exposes Charlotte’s affair to Oliver.
Shattered by the revelation, Oliver confronts Charlotte and uncovers that Hedvig is actually Henry’s biological child. In a fit of rage, Oliver physically attacks Henry before leaving the gathering. Meanwhile, Charlotte begs Christian not to disclose the truth to Hedvig.
The following day, Christian reveals Hedvig’s true paternity to her. While she asks Oliver to disregard this information, he refuses to do so. In despair, Hedvig attempts suicide using her grandfather's shotgun but survives with severe injuries. During Hedvig’s recovery in the hospital, Oliver and Charlotte begin to reconcile.
Cast
- Paul Schneider as Christian Nielsen
- Geoffrey Rush as Henry Nielsen, father of Christian
- Ewen Leslie as Oliver Finch, childhood friend of Christian and husband to Charlotte
- Miranda Otto as Charlotte Finch, wife of Oliver
- Odessa Young as Hedvig Finch, their daughter
- Anna Torv as Anna, housekeeper and bride-to-be of Henry
- Sam Neill as Walter Finch, Oliver’s father
- Nicholas Hope as Peterson
Release
The Daughter made its debut in the Special Presentations category at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and was subsequently released across Australia on 17 March 2016.
Reception
The film received predominantly favorable critiques. It holds a 77% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 61 reviews with an average score of 6.9/10. Critics praised it as a thoughtful reinterpretation of Henrik Ibsen's The Wild Duck, delving into themes of familial and communal relationships. On Metacritic, it has a score of 62 out of 100 from 12 critics, signifying "generally favorable reviews."
Jessica Kiang from IndieWire awarded it a B+, commending its refined execution and insightful portrayal of human nature beneath the melodrama. Wendy Ide of The Guardian rated it four out of five stars, highlighting the compelling performances in this Ibsen adaptation. Eddie Cockrell writing for Variety offered a positive comparison with other versions of The Wild Duck. Rochelle Siemienowicz from SBS characterized the film as a confident and understated contemporary retelling of classic European drama set within an Australian context.
Accolades
| Award | Ceremony Date | Category | Nominee(s) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AACTA Awards | 7 December 2016 | Best Film | Jan Chapman and Nicole O'Donohue | Template:Nom |
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Simon Stone | Template:Won | ||
| Best Actor | Ewen Leslie | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Actress | Odessa Young | Template:Won | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Sam Neill | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Supporting Actress | Miranda Otto | Template:Won | ||
| Anna Torv | Template:Nom | |||
| Best Editing | Veronika Jenet | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Sound | Yulia Akerholt, James Andrews, Liam Egan, Nick Emond, Tony Murtagh and Robert Sullivan | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Production Design | Steven Jones-Evans | Template:Nom | ||
| ASE Award | Best Editing in a Feature Film | Veronika Jenet | Template:Nom |