The Lost Daughter (2021) is a deeply psychological drama written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, based on the novel by Elena Ferrante. The film stars Olivia Colman, Dakota Johnson, and Jessie Buckley, and it dives into the complex emotional world of motherhood, guilt, and self-identity.
Detailed Summary
Introduction: A Quiet Escape
The film follows Leda Caruso (Olivia Colman), a middle-aged literature professor who goes on a solitary vacation to a small Greek island. She seeks rest and perhaps an escape from her academic life. But beneath her calm demeanor, it’s clear she carries emotional baggage.
The Encounter with Nina’s Family
On the beach, Leda meets Nina (Dakota Johnson), a young mother, her daughter Elena, and their extended, loud family. The chaotic energy of the group contrasts with Leda’s solitude. But when Elena temporarily goes missing, Leda finds her—an event that bonds her with Nina. However, after returning the child, Leda quietly keeps Elena’s doll, an action that becomes central to the film’s symbolism.
Flashbacks: Leda’s Past Life
Through flashbacks, we meet young Leda (Jessie Buckley), a young academic and mother of two small daughters. We witness her struggles with motherhood—her frustration, exhaustion, and longing for freedom. Her marriage is suffocating, and her identity is consumed by her children. Eventually, Leda makes the shocking decision to leave her family for three years to pursue her academic ambitions and a passionate affair.
These scenes are not presented as simple condemnation or justification—they’re raw, human, and deeply uncomfortable.
The Doll’s Symbolism
Back in the present, Leda’s attachment to the doll becomes almost obsessive. She cleans it, smells it, hides it—almost as though she’s reclaiming something from her own lost motherhood. Meanwhile, Nina grows increasingly restless in her own role as a mother and wife, mirroring Leda’s younger self.
When Nina discovers that Leda was the one who stole the doll, the relationship between them collapses into a mixture of fascination and disgust.
Movie Ending
In the final act, Nina and Leda share a tense conversation. Nina, already suspicious, confronts Leda directly, who admits that she took the doll. Nina reacts violently—stabbing Leda in the stomach with a hatpin.
The next morning, Leda leaves the island, wounded but composed. She drives away, collapses on the beach, and awakens near the shoreline. Her phone rings—her daughters call, worried after not hearing from her. In a quiet, surreal moment, Leda tells them she’s alive and that she’s “alive again.”
The ending is ambiguous—was her collapse fatal, or was it symbolic of rebirth? The film leaves that question intentionally unanswered. What is clear is that Leda reaches some form of emotional reckoning. She has confronted her past, acknowledged her selfishness, and finally found peace—or at least acceptance.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
No, The Lost Daughter does not have any post-credits scenes. The film ends definitively with Leda’s final phone conversation and the image of her peeling an orange—a callback to an earlier, tender memory with her daughters.
Type of Movie
Psychological drama. Introspective, emotional, and character-driven, focusing on internal conflict rather than external action.
Cast
- Olivia Colman as Leda Caruso
- Jessie Buckley as Young Leda
- Dakota Johnson as Nina
- Ed Harris as Lyle
- Peter Sarsgaard as Professor Hardy
- Paul Mescal as Will
- Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Toni
Film Music and Composer
The score was composed by Dickon Hinchliffe, whose minimalist style complements the film’s subtle tension. The music uses gentle piano motifs and strings to evoke the undercurrent of guilt and unease that runs through Leda’s experience.
Filming Locations
Filming took place on the Greek island of Spetses. Its serene, sun-soaked landscapes contrast sharply with the turbulence of Leda’s emotions. The calm setting makes her internal chaos even more striking, and the isolation of the island reflects her psychological isolation.
Awards and Nominations
- Academy Awards 2022:
- Nominated for Best Actress (Olivia Colman)
- Nominated for Best Supporting Actress (Jessie Buckley)
- Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay (Maggie Gyllenhaal)
- Venice Film Festival 2021: Maggie Gyllenhaal won the Best Screenplay award.
- BAFTA Awards: Multiple nominations, including Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.
Behind the Scenes Insights
- This film marks Maggie Gyllenhaal’s directorial debut.
- Gyllenhaal received personal approval from Elena Ferrante, who rarely grants adaptation rights.
- Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley did not meet during filming but collaborated closely to align their portrayals of Leda.
- The doll used in the movie was custom-made and aged to appear both realistic and unsettling.
- Gyllenhaal described the story as “a love letter to imperfection in motherhood.”
Inspirations and References
The movie is adapted from the novel “La figlia oscura” (The Lost Daughter) by Italian author Elena Ferrante. Like the book, it explores themes of maternal ambivalence, identity loss, and social expectations of women.
The story’s focus on guilt and freedom echoes literary influences such as Virginia Woolf and Elena Ferrante’s own Neapolitan novels, which delve into female interiority and moral contradictions.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
There are no known alternate endings, though early versions of the script reportedly included more extensive flashbacks of Leda’s time away from her daughters. Gyllenhaal chose to keep those moments ambiguous, allowing the audience to imagine what “freedom” really meant for her.
Book Adaptations and Differences
- The film remains faithful to Ferrante’s novel but adds more visual symbolism.
- The setting is changed from Italy to Greece.
- Lyle (Ed Harris) is a more developed character in the film than in the book.
- The movie ends on a slightly more hopeful note—Ferrante’s novel leans more heavily into existential despair.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- Leda finding and keeping Elena’s doll.
- The flashback where young Leda walks out on her family.
- The confession scene between Leda and Nina.
- The final phone call where Leda says, “I’m alive.”
Iconic Quotes
- Leda: “Children are a crushing responsibility.”
- Nina: “You don’t know what it’s like.”
- Leda: “Yes, I do.”
- Leda: “I’m alive. Actually, I’m alive.”
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The orange-peeling motif mirrors Leda’s daughters copying her gesture in flashbacks—symbolizing inherited behavior and memory.
- The doll represents lost innocence and motherhood’s possessive nature.
- The name Leda is a nod to Leda and the Swan, a myth about transformation and loss of control.
- The beach scenes were shot with a handheld camera to mirror the instability of Leda’s mind.
Trivia
- Jessie Buckley was nominated for an Oscar for portraying the younger version of a character who was also Oscar-nominated (Olivia Colman).
- The movie was shot during the COVID-19 pandemic with a minimal crew.
- Ferrante insisted that Gyllenhaal could only adapt the novel if she also directed it herself.
- The film was distributed by Netflix in most territories.
Why Watch?
The Lost Daughter isn’t an easy watch—it’s intimate, raw, and sometimes painfully honest. But it’s one of the most powerful explorations of motherhood ever put to screen. It challenges the myth of the “perfect mother” and forces viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about love, sacrifice, and identity.
Director’s Other Works
- The Kindergarten Teacher (2018) – producer
- Crazy Heart (2009) – actor
- Secretary (2002) – actor
Recommended Films for Fans
- Pieces of a Woman (2020)
- Blue Valentine (2010)
- Marriage Story (2019)
- A Woman Under the Influence (1974)
- The Hours (2002)
- Tár (2022)
