What Maisie Knew Review: A very real insight on divorce as seen through the perspective of a six year old

Dir. Scott McGehee & David Siegel
93 Minutes
Rated R

What Maisie Knew has been making the rounds here and there in a limited release, a contemporary re-telling of a novel written in 1897 by Henry James told from the perspective of a young girl observing her dysfunctional family and the divorce of her parents.  The film stars Julianne Moore and Steve Coogan as Maisie's feuding parents, each flawed in their own right, and newcomer Onata Aprile as the titular Maisie.  The film is a brilliant portrayal of a broken family life as seen through the eyes of an innocent child, and at times can be hard to watch.  Although the whole custody battle/divorce plot line has been done to death, What Maisie Knew brings a fresh twist on the genre with a wonderful script and amazing actors.


The crux of the film lies on the performance of a six year old, and Onata Aprile nails it.  She gives one of the most natural kid performances I've ever seen in a film; she really acted as if the camera and lights weren't there.  There's just an authentic little girl on screen - not an actor, just a girl that we've seen and recognize from real life.  It's her genuine flow working off of the other, often prolific actors that give this film its magic and heart.  Julianne Moore is brilliant as well, playing a mother with a lot of issues.  She's a Patti Smith-type rocker, and although she loves her daughter, her lifestyle (and mental insecurity) is catching up with her.  On the other side of the coin you've got Steve Coogan, playing against type here to show off his dramatic chops.  He delivers a just as interesting, if a less "showy," performance as Moore; he's a business man who clearly likes to womanize on his many "trips."  But all this is shown through Maisie's filter, which gives all the arguments and problems that much more weight.

If you're a crier, bring some tissues.  I was fighting tears by the end of the film.  One second you'll feel all warm inside, the next you'll be upset, and then you'll start crying.  To use a tired phrase: it's kind of a roller coaster of emotion.  Except laughter.  It's not really funny.  But if you or anyone you know was a child of divorce or anything like that, it will hit you right in the "feels."  It's pretty amazing that a 100-year old story holds up this well, but the universal experiences of families and the innocence of childhood are basic human needs and the tale transcends time.  This was just a really well told story, and all the old bags sitting in the theater with me were left stunned during the end credits (I was the first to leave, while everyone else sat there in stunned silence...either they were emotional wrecks, sleeping, or dead, but I like to think positive).

Rating: A-


Bonus - Related Internet Video

Here's a radio interview (in video form) with the two directors of What Masie Knew, sharing some of their insight on the characters and themes of the film.