#TIFF15: “THE DAUGHTER”

Based on the his play The Wild Duck, Australian Theatre Director/Writer/Actor Simon Stone‘s The Daughter offers a modernization of the award-winning production. The Drama centers on two childhood friends, Christian (Paul Schneider) and Oliver (Ewen Leslie) as they reunite. A recovering alcoholic, Christian returns home for his estranged father Henry‘s (Geoffrey Rush) wedding to a woman half his age. Upon reuniting, we realize that there are buried tensions between son and father. We meet also Oliver‘s wife Charlotte (Miranda Otto) and their teenage daughter Hedvig (Odessa Young). This reunion, which should be a joyous affair, culminates in great tension with a deep, dark, buried history. Combined with the fact that Henry is forced to close his mill, which employs Oliver and several others in their town, leads to the untangling of a web of secrets and lies which if uncovered, could prove detrimental to all involved.

Despite building-up in unsuspecting enough a manner, The Daughter veers sharply to melodrama late, becoming a full-on theatrical tragedy. And this inconsistency tonally is a little off-putting even with some sprinkles of foreshadowing earlier on. That being said, young talent Odeya Young actually is quite a presence, and it is quite easy to sympathize with her as her world unravels. Australian actor Ewen Leslie begins as the easy Oliver and he transforms also his world unravels, doing so with great commitment. Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush sadly is underutilized and we wish there was a bit more development on his Henry.

Certainly not the feel-good Movie of TIFF ’15, The Daughter should still find an audience at the Festival for those looking for something more emotionally-heavy.

Mongrel Media release THE DAUGHTER, which screen at TIFF ’15:

 Fri Sep 11 5:00 PM

WINTER GARDEN THEATRE

Sat Sep 12 8:45 AM

ISABEL BADER THEATRE