In the midst of spectacles and action thrillers coming out nowadays, it’s refreshing to see a quiet gem has arrived on Netflix. His Three Daughters focuses on a topic common in real life and in movies, siblings coming back to their ailing parents’ home to prepare for their final parting. Maybe to offset such a heavy subject matter some of these movies are handled in a comedic or even farcical way, This is Where I Leave You (2014) and August: Osage County (2013) come to mind. In contrast, writer director Azazel Jacobs in His Three Daughters (2023) confronts the subject in a realistic and mindful way, eliciting from his three main actors honest and powerful performance. Jacobs is apt too in infusing witty dialogues and subtle humour. What a gratifying turn from his previous film French Exit (2020).
Under one roof in their father’s NYC apartment, three estranged sisters learn to live with each other once again. Carrie Coon (The Gilded Age) is the eldest daughter Katie, the take-charge type, from cooking, dealing with palliative nurses, getting a DNR (do-not-resuscitate) form signed by the father before he slips away, to writing his obituary while micro managing her teenage daughter at home in Brooklyn. Her intolerance of her stepsister Rachel (Natasha Lyonne, Orange is the New Black) who smokes weed and bets on sport games constitutes the main conflict in the sibling relationships. Trying to mediate between the two is Christina (Elizabeth Olsen, Sorry for your Loss) who is always reconciliatory. She’s preoccupied with her young daughter and husband at home far away across the country.
As for the father, he remains unseen behind closed or slightly opened door in his bedroom, his presence only denoted by the rhythmic beeping of the monitor to which he’s hooked up. Such concealing allows the viewers to focus on the trio, for what’s equally pressing is the rebuilding of sisterhood and the way to move forward after their father is gone. Dying relationships among the living are crying out to be heard and reconciled.
Rachel has been living in the apartment with their father all along, while the other two sisters just recently arrive to take care of things at this final stage of their father’s life. New house rules are set up. A pivotal scene comes when Rachel’s friend Benjy (Jovan Adepo) confronts the other two sisters as he points out the reality of their family dynamics. A new perspective begins to sink in as they come to realize their own shortfalls, a reality check that doesn’t go down easy for anyone.
In this chamber piece rich in dialogues, Coon, Lyonne, and Olsen are impeccable in displaying the raw and honest emotions of sibling love, hate, overt and hidden sentiments they hold against each other. But the overall mood is not all serious and somber. There’s underlying humour throughout, especially the opening scene, which reminds me of early Woody Allen works. Music is minimal to amplify the conversations, silence to enhance tension and ambivalence. Despite being shot inside an apartment with minimal exterior scenes, the camera is effective in conveying suspense, loss, and love.
As for the twist towards the end, it’s open to interpretations; however, it does seem incongruent with the earlier part. To avoid spoilers, I won’t be discussing it here. No matter, it’s the process reaching to the end that’s what the film so powerfully depicts. I hope to see more of this kind of cinematic gems to appear in theatres and on streaming platforms.
~ ~ ~ 1/2 Ripples
***
Related posts on Ripple Effects:
Ripple Effects 
By the time I finished reading your second sentence, I already was thinking of August: Osage County. That’s one of the few films I’ve seen in a theater, and I loved it. Oddly, the details that have stayed with me are from the beginning of the film: the old man quoting T.S. Eliot, and Eric Clapton’s version of “Lay Down, Sally.”
The one you’ve reviewed here is on Netflix, which I don’t have, but I just discovered that August: Osage County is on Amazon prime for another week. I’m going to enjoy that one instead, and watch to see if His Three Daughters eventually comes to Amazon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have sharp instincts! Amazing too, considering you watch ‘few films’ in a theatre. August Osage County is very entertaining despite its flaws and a few far-fetched scenes. I wrote a review of the play and the movie here, noting in particular the T.S. Eliot quotes. Yes, we share our love for the poet and his works, and the play is particularly noteworthy. BTW, an interesting connection: the playwright Tracy Letts’s wife is Carrie Coon, who plays the eldest daughter in His Three Daughters. Maybe he had some influence on Jacobs’ screenplay. BTW2, we had several exchanges in the comments on my review post of August: Osage County. That’s 10 years ago! Check it out. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My comment disappeared — check to see if it landed in spam or moderation. If not, I’ll give it another go.
LikeLike
Never mind!
LikeLike
I was already interested in checking out this movie — and your review has increased my curiosity to see it. I agree with you about movies like these being refreshing. I recently saw “Good Grief” (on Netflix), and thought it did a good job of showing people handling grief and the times when friends aren’t there to emotionally help you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
After you’ve seen it, you’re welcome to come back to the Pond to share your view. As I often invite my readers to throw in their two pebbles to leave some ripples.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds like a worthwhile movie to watch. Thanks for your review.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome back, Ellen. 🙂
LikeLike