THE LOST DAUGHTER
Well-acted psychological drama overwhelmed by selfishness and excess.
Should You Watch It?
The performances are strong, and the film seriously examines the inner turmoil of a mother and wife who wants freedom. But the story presents raising children negatively and follows a woman who abandons her children after an affair, abuses one daughter, and continues to fall prey to selfishness.
The consequences are real. The film includes some compassion and shows that selfish actions cause harm. Yet those elements are marred by self-seeking motives, and the source review finds little to no redemptive quality. The excessive sex and foul language further overwhelm its limited value.
You should skip this movie, even if its acting and psychological drama appeal to you.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESLeda, a middle-aged comparative-literature professor, takes a working vacation in a beach town in Greece. At first, the seaside apartment and quiet beach offer her the freedom she wants.
That peace changes when a large, intrusive family arrives. Leda becomes fascinated by Nina, a young mother, and Nina’s daughter, Elena. Watching them together awakens troubling memories of Leda’s own life as a wife and mother.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is a capable, well-acted drama with serious emotional material, but not a film whose strengths overcome its content and worldview problems. Olivia Colman, Ed Harris, Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley, and Peter Sarsgaard lead the cast, with Maggie Gyllenhaal directing and writing.
The film effectively portrays a mother’s inner turmoil, her desire for freedom, and the continuing trauma of her past. But the review finds no respite for the audience as Leda continues to give in to selfishness. Its craft has merit; its overall experience does not.
The Worldview
The film presents romantic and sexual desire as a powerful force that can pull people away from family responsibilities. Parents selfishly run from those responsibilities, and adultery and deceit recur throughout the story. Raising children is viewed negatively, while freedom is treated as a central longing.
The movie does show negative consequences for Leda’s actions and includes some examples of compassion. However, those positive elements are weakened by self-seeking motives. The story offers little to no redemption, leaving selfishness as a continuing problem rather than showing a clear path toward restoration.
A biblical view recognizes that sin damages both the sinner and the people around them, while also holding out the possibility of repentance and renewal. Scripture warns, “for whatever one sows, that will he also reap” (Galatians 6:7). The film depicts the consequences of selfishness but, according to the source review, does not offer meaningful hope beyond them.
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong Romantic worldview with little redeeming elements, parents selfishly run from their responsibilities, and, although there are negative consequences and some examples of compassion, they are marred by self-seeking motives
Foul Language
At least 48 obscenities (including more than 35 “f” words) and five to seven profanities (including a few strong profanities
Violence
No graphic violence, but there are psychological horror elements throughout like gross imagery of insects, a mother verbally and physically abuses her children (while not graphic, these scenes are unsettling), a woman is stabbed with a hatpin, a woman is involved in a car accident
Sex
Themes of adultery, a couple has sex, upper female nudity is shown and the scene is made more graphic through sexual language, another couple has sex with their clothing on, upper female nudity briefly seen while she lays in bed, a woman masturbates, but no nudity is shown, she is interrupted by her daughter, there are many examples of characters being unfaithful to their spouses, some conversations about sex, a child is washed in a bath, and, while there is no nudity, it could be uncomfortable for some viewers
Nudity
Upper male nudity, upper female nudity, rear female nudity, and the movie takes place on a beach, so many characters are in bathing suits throughout the movie
Alcohol Use
Drinking throughout, several scenes include drunkenness at a party, and at a restaurant
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
A man smokes a cigarette, but no drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Aside from excessive immoral content, the movie also contains child abandonment, affairs, deceit, a negative view of raising children, and selfish actions (while some of these actions have negative consequences, they are prevalent throughout the movie).
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
What responsibilities do parents have toward their children, even when parenting feels difficult or limiting?
Ephesians 6:4 · Psalm 127:3How do selfish choices affect spouses, children, and other relationships?
Philippians 2:3–4 · Galatians 6:7What is the difference between recognizing the consequences of sin and turning from sin?
2 Corinthians 7:10 · Acts 3:19Where can someone find hope after causing serious harm through selfish choices?
1 John 1:9 · Psalm 51:10–12The Final Word
This is a well-acted drama with serious questions about freedom, motherhood, and selfishness. But excessive sexual content and foul language, along with its bleak view of family responsibility and its lack of redemption, make it a poor choice. Our answer is clear: SKIP IT. For better options, see.
