Culture

Rating: 3.5/5

I fully understand that divorces are never fun, carefree events that come with smiles and free popsicles, but I could not have predicted the messiness, nastiness and general glumness depicted in What Maisie Knew. The film follows the bitter separation of ageing rockstar Susanah (Julianne Moore) and her sarcastic, wealthy husband Beale (Steve Coogan), told from the perspective of their young daughter Maisie (Onata Aprile).

What Maisie Knew easily challenges The Shining and Carrie for the award of “worst parents in film history.” Susannah and Beale pass Maisie between them like a rag doll that neither of them particularly wants, with Maisie finding an odd solace in her parents’ new partners Lincoln (Alexander Skarsgard) and Margo (Joanna Vanderham).

This film’s success is almost completely reliant on the talent of the young actress playing Maisie, and Alprine definitely delivered. Moore and Coogan gave strong performances, but Alprine was an absolute star, and her quiet dignity carries the film. Skarsgard is also a notable mention as the bumbling, smiley barman tossed into a complex web of lies, playing his character with just the right amount of stupid.

Unfortunately, What Maisie Knew is let down by a plot that often left the realm of believability. It was difficult to accept that two educated, mature adults would leave a small child in some of the situations Maisie ended up in, or that the child would essentially be fine with it. Throughout her harrowing ordeal Maisie did not have one tantrum or even cry, apart from the one silent, solitary tear that escaped during her most upset moment. If these were purposefully made decisions to reveal character psychology, I have to say that the psychology seems iffy.

Nevertheless, this is an intelligent, raw film that unflinchingly examines the selfishness of human nature. Although the ratio of unpleasant events to pleasant is about five to one, I constantly wanted more, and couldn’t wait to know what happened next. This film offers just enough of a glimmer of hope to satisfy an industry too scared to present anything unhappy.