Olivia Colman’s new Netflix drama has been a hit with viewers after landing on the streaming service on New Year’s Eve, having not only landed itself in the global top 10 this week, but also racked up a not-too-shabby 96 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, The Lost Daughter sees Colman star as Leda, a woman who becomes fascinated by a young mother she meets on the beach.
A synopsis from Netflix says: “A woman’s beach vacation takes a dark turn when her obsession with a young mother forces her to confront the secrets of her past.”
It’s based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Elena Ferrante, with the star-studded cast also featuring the likes of Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson, Ed Harris, Peter Sarsgaard, Dagmara Dominczyk and Normal People’s Paul Mescal.
The movie has received praise across the board from the critics, in turn leading to a 96 percent rating on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer.
In his review, the Chicago Tribune’s Michael Phillips referred to The Lost Daughter as ‘one of the year’s best movies’, while the Observer’s Mark Kermode said: “Maggie Gyllenhaal’s feature debut as writer-director is an impressively atmospheric piece of work – filled with longing and dread, and heavy with the anticipation of buried secrets about to be revealed.
"Deftly adapted from Elena Ferrante’s short source novel, it’s an enigmatic psychodrama that seems to teeter permanently on the brink of cataclysm.”
Robert Daniels of Polygon concluded: “It’s difficult to believe The Lost Daughter is Gyllenhaal’s feature directorial debut.
"The rhythms of the narrative, the assured visual language, the precise performances she pulls from each actor moves with the confidence of a veteran filmmaker.
"There isn’t a single scene devolving into excess, a single extraneous line of dialogue or a shot that lingers beyond its welcome.”
Fans have also been hailing the film as one of the the best of the past year, with one tweeting: "Enjoyed The Lost Daughter! My anxiety kept spiking through the whole thing. Olivia Colman is really fantastic and I loved watching her watch people. Dakota Johnson's also really strong in this and her final scene was a highlight. Strong debut from Maggie Gyllenhaal."
Someone else wrote: "Maggie Gyllenhaal’s The Lost Daughter… I’m speechless. Best film of 2021."
Another said: "I am completely mesmerized by the utterly astounding tour de force Olivia Colman delivers in THE LOST DAUGHTER. Needless to say, Maggie Gyllenhaal presents us a charming directing style and exquisite cam movements driven by emotion."
Watch The Lost Daughter on Netflix now.
Topics: Netflix, TV and Film
Jess Hardiman