The Eternal Daughter
The Eternal Daughter | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Joanna Hogg |
Written by | Joanna Hogg |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Cinematography | Ed Rutherford |
Edited by | Helle Le Fevre |
Production companies |
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Distributed by |
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Release dates | |
Running time | 96 minutes[2] |
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Language | English |
Box office | $568,330[3] |
The Eternal Daughter is a 2022 Gothic mystery drama film produced, written and directed by Joanna Hogg. It stars Tilda Swinton in a double role, as both a middle-aged filmmaker and her elderly mother who are guests at a mysterious hotel. Joseph Mydell and Carly-Sophia Davies are featured in supporting roles.
The Eternal Daughter premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on 6 September 2022, and was released in the United States on 2 December 2022 by A24.
Plot
[edit]Middle-aged filmmaker Julie is riding with her elderly mother Rosalind and Rosalind's dog Louis in a taxi, whose driver recounts a ghost story. He drops them off at a large, secluded and seemingly empty hotel. Julie's father died a couple of years earlier and Julie wants to spend time with her mother in hopes of making a film about her. Shrouded in an eerie fog and echoing with creaks, thumps and moaning wind that keep Julie from sleeping well, the hotel is Rosalind's former family estate. She recounts painful memories that occurred there, including the death of a family member during World War II. Julie starts to cry with regret at dredging up these memories, but Rosalind assures her that it's not her fault and that she has happy memories of her childhood home as well.
One night, Julie walks into her room to find Louis missing. She searches the grounds frantically, enlisting the help of Bill, a hotel employee. Rosalind returns to the room and finds the dog sitting on the bed. She thanks Bill for his help and they share a drink as they bond over their shared grief—Julie's father and Bill's wife, who has also died recently. The following day, Rosalind's birthday, Julie overhears Rosalind talking with Bill. Rosalind says she feels sorry for Julie because she has no children of her own and dotes on her mother instead. Later, Rosalind recounts the circumstances of a miscarriage she had, after which Julie's cousin Alistair drops off flowers for her.
Julie arranges a special birthday supper with presents for her mother, but when Rosalind says that she is not hungry, Julie breaks down. She feels she cannot be happy when her mother is not happy and that she fears for the future as she has no children to take care of her when she is older. While bringing her mother a birthday cake, Julie begins sobbing and it is revealed that she is alone at the table and that her mother is dead. Bill visits Julie's room and comforts her, and later she dreams of Rosalind on her death bed.
The following day, the sun is shining and birds are singing as Julie works on her screenplay, which opens with the same scene that began this film. As she departs the hotel it is revealed to be full of guests and staff. The receptionist seems visibly concerned for Julie, who thanks her for her concern. Bill helps Julie get into a taxi, which carries her away.
Cast
[edit]The cast includes:[4]
- Tilda Swinton as Julie and Rosalind Hart
- Joseph Mydell as Bill
- August Joshi as Taxi Driver
- Carly-Sophia Davies as Hotel Receptionist
- Crispin Buxton as Cousin Alistair
- Louis as Louis the Dog
Production
[edit]On January 18, 2021, it was announced that a film written and directed by Joanna Hogg and starring Tilda Swinton had wrapped.[5] On January 27, 2021, it was confirmed that A24 acquired the worldwide distribution rights.[6][7]
The film was shot in Wales during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.[6]
Release
[edit]The film premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on 6 September 2022.[2][8] It also screened at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival[9][10] and the 60th New York Film Festival.[11][12] It was released in the United States on 2 December 2022. BFI Distribution acquired U.K. distribution rights in March 2023.[13]
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 95% of 136 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.7/10. The website's consensus reads: "Tilda Swinton² is haunting in the gothic ghost story The Eternal Daughter, an ode to familial female ties that leaves much to unravel after the fog lifts."[14] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 80 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[15]
Year-end lists
[edit]The film appeared on a number of critics' lists of the best films of 2022: [16]
- 2nd – Molly Haskell, Screen Slate
- 2nd – David Sims, The Atlantic
- 2nd – Florence Almozini, Film Comment Poll
- 3rd – Monica Castillo, RogerEbert.com
- 3rd – Justin Chang, The Los Angeles Times
- 3rd – Reverse Shot
References
[edit]- ^ "The Eternal Daughter". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
- ^ a b "The Eternal Daughter". La Biennale di Venezia. 8 July 2022. Archived from the original on 2 September 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
- ^ "The Eternal Daughter (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ "Film and TV Projects Going Into Production – The Eternal Daughter". Variety Insight. Archived from the original on 26 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ Barfield, Charles (18 January 2021). "Tilda Swinton Has Wrapped Filming On A Secret Feature With Director Joanna Hogg". The Playlist. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
- ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (27 January 2021). "A24 Takes World Rights To Under-The-Radar Ghost Story 'The Eternal Daughter' Starring Tilda Swinton & Exec-Produced By Martin Scorsese". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 12 September 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ^ Kay, Jeremy (27 January 2021). "A24 acquires worldwide rights to Tilda Swinton drama 'The Eternal Daughter'". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (26 July 2022). "Venice Film Festival Lineup: Aronofsky, Inarritu, Field, Dominik, Guadagnino, Hogg, McDonagh, Panahi In Competition". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 1 August 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "The Eternal Daughter". Toronto International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (28 July 2022). "Toronto Film Festival 2022 Expecting "Full Houses" Says CEO With Star Power World Premieres: Jennifer Lawrence's 'Causeway', Anya Taylor-Joy's 'The Menu', Jessica Chastain's 'The Good Nurse', Jonathan Majors & Glen Powell's 'Devotion' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ "The Eternal Daughter". Film at Lincoln Center. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ Goldsmith, Jill (9 August 2022). "New York Film Festival Sets Main Slate For 60th Edition". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 21 August 2022. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ Ntim, Zac (22 March 2023). "'The Eternal Daughter': BFI Distribution Acquires Tilda Swinton Ghost Tale For UK & Irish Release". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 23 March 2023. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "The Eternal Daughter". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
- ^ "The Eternal Daughter". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
- ^ Hogg, Joanna. "The Eternal Daughter". Year-End Lists. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
External links
[edit]- 2022 films
- 2022 drama films
- 2022 independent films
- 2020s American films
- 2020s British films
- 2020s English-language films
- 2020s mystery drama films
- A24 (company) films
- American independent films
- American mystery drama films
- BBC Film films
- British independent films
- British mystery drama films
- Films about mother–daughter relationships
- Films directed by Joanna Hogg
- Films set in hotels
- Films shot in Wales
- English-language mystery drama films