Writer/director Azazel Jacobs has created something truly special With “His Three Daughters,” a film that captures a raw, authentic portrait of anticipatory grief and the familial bonds that keep us obligated to the past. It’s a moving, sincere, and intimate story that expresses itself with a relatability like no other. This film continues to effect me deeply, and it will speak to others who have experienced the mental and emotional turmoil of being put in the position of mourning of a loved one who is not yet gone.
The bittersweet film tells the story of three sisters who come to be with their dying father in his small New York apartment during his final days in hospice care. Each of the women live very different lives, have distinct (and contrasting) personalities, and their relationships with each haven’t been the best.
There’s the eldest, Katie (Carrie Coon), a control freak who is a judgmental, no-nonsense mother dealing with an out of control teenage daughter of her own. The free-spirited, highly emotional Christina (Elizabeth Olsen) is a mom too, and this is the first trip she’s ever taken away from her young child. Neither of these women think too highly of the sports betting stoner Rachel (Natasha Lyonne), dismissing her as the irresponsible sister who has never left her father’s apartment. When the trio meet again, it’s not smooth sailing.
If you’re thinking about dismissing this film as one that’s too reliant on a forced premise and a clichéd oil-and-vinegar setup for the characters, don’t. While it may sound like the foundation for a floundering sitcom, Jacobs brings a richness and depth to his story that’s insightful and poignant without ever feeling emotionally manipulative (with the exception of the potentially divisive ending). This is an exploration of family dynamics and the melancholy realization that these siblings are boding over the things that their parent is soon to leave behind. The story is told over a volatile, agonizing, and cathartic three days where death is looming over it all.
In classic Jacobs fashion, this dramatic, talky film would work just as well as a stage play. His writing has reached peak level here, with incredibly strong dialogue, character development, and structure. The discourse between Rachel and Katie is some of the best writing I’ve encountered in a film, especially the scene where the eldest is called out on her misguided, flawed personal narrative. Interestingly, it’s the things that are left unsaid that reveal the real truth and essence of these three women, and the leads convey so much with a simple look or gesture. The performances are stellar, but it is Lyonne who delivers the knockout turn in what’s easily the best of her career.
The story is so intimate that it can sometimes feel uncomfortable, especially as you share in the unseen but still impending presence of their dying father down the hall. The pacing is deliberate but never too slow, which gives a real sense of how it feels to be waiting around for a loved one to die. The dialogue is raw, peeling back layers and decades of rocky relationships and giving a sense of how each of the three sisters processes grief in their own way. There are stages of acceptance to which everyone can relate, and it results in many verbal altercations and insults. But when the sisters actually sit down and talk, they realize sharing memories of their dad are one of the best ways to not only celebrate his life, but to find the comfort they so desperately seek.
There are moments of light brevity, but “His Three Daughters” is a powerhouse of a drama. This is a profound piece of cinema that hits all of its heavy emotional targets, and it’s one of the best films I’ve seen this year.
By: Louisa Moore
Screen Zealots 