Frau im Dunkeln (2021)

Frau im Dunkeln (2021). Frau im Dunkeln: Directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal. With Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, Ed Harris. A woman’s beach vacation takes a dark turn when she begins to confront the troubles of her past.

“On a summer vacation in Greece, Leda (Olivia Coleman), a 48-year-old professor from the states, confronts a raucous family with a young mother, Nina (Dakota Johnson), whose temperamental child reminds Leda of the challenges she faced as a young mother. Maggie Gyllenhaalu0026#39;s first outing as a writer-director is a triumph of subtle feminism underlying a search for the disturbing layers of motherhood, including abandonment and infidelity.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGyllenhaal displays an acceptance of lifeu0026#39;s vagaries with goodwill and a subtle dread for the disappointments lying ahead. Colemanu0026#39;s Leda is charming and disagreeable in almost equal measure. While she observes her neighborsu0026#39; frequently lame attempts at motherhood and marriage, Leda is slowly reminded of her own infidelity and child abandonment issues, expertly played as a young Leda by Jessie Buckley. Coleman navigates between now and then with the self-possession of a scholar used to the ambiguities of living and loving.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe story is not overly-complex or subtle because the characters are deliciously confused and downright naughty as folks in their late twenties are wont to be. Never are Gyllenhaalu0026#39;s and Colemanu0026#39;s attitudes about disappointment in their fellow human beings; rather director and star are as intrigued as they are perplexed about how life turns in on itself.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eColeman won the Oscar for The Favourite, a decidedly raucous set long ago. The Lost Daughter is a contemporary drama that shows her other acting chops. She will be Oscar nominated and deservedly so. Director Maggie Gyllenhaal should also be, an extraordinary occurrence for her first time out.”