Okay, so I’ve been diving deep into “The Eternal Daughter” lately, and let me tell you, it’s a trip. I wanted to break down my whole process of understanding this movie, from start to finish, ’cause it’s not exactly straightforward.
First Watch: Total Confusion
First time I watched it, I was like, “What the heck did I just watch?” I mean, Tilda Swinton playing both mother and daughter? Creepy old hotel? Everything felt so… off. I started by just letting the movie wash over me. No pausing, no rewinding, just experiencing it.
- The atmosphere got to me immediately. That fog, the empty hallways… seriously spooky.
- I focused on the dialogue, even when it felt repetitive or meandering. There were hints in there, I could feel it.
- The sound design! Every creak and groan had me on edge. I made a note to really pay attention to that on the rewatch.
Second Watch: Picking Up the Pieces
Okay, second time around, I armed myself with a notepad and pen. I knew there was more going on than I initially caught. This time, I was actively looking for clues.
- I paid close attention to the recurring motifs: the dog, the portraits, the stories about the past.
- I started to notice how Julie (the daughter) seemed to be projecting her own feelings onto her mother. Was Rosalind (the mother) even real, or a manifestation of Julie’s guilt and grief?
- I began noticing the similarites of their clothes, actions,and many other details.
Digging Deeper: Research and Theories
After the second watch, I felt like I had a slightly better grasp, but I still had tons of questions. So, I hit the internet. I read reviews, watched video essays, and scrolled through forums. This is where things got really interesting.
- I discovered the connection to the director, Joanna Hogg’s, own life and her previous films, “The Souvenir” parts I and II. This added a whole new layer of meaning.
- I learned about the gothic tradition and how “The Eternal Daughter” plays with those tropes.
- I found some people said that maybe all of it is Julie’s mind. It’s all about how she handles and faces her own guilt.
Putting It All Together: My Interpretation
So, after all that watching, researching, and thinking, here’s where I’m at with “The Eternal Daughter”:
I think the movie is ultimately about the complexities of mother-daughter relationships, the burden of unspoken grief, and the way we create our own narratives to cope with the past. I think the “ghosts” in the hotel are really the ghosts of Julie’s unresolved feelings and her struggle to connect with her mother. The ambiguous ending? I think it leaves room for us to decide how much is real and how much is in Julie’s mind. It’s a movie that stays with you, that’s for sure.
It’s not a movie with easy answers, and that’s what makes it so compelling. I’m still thinking about it, and I’m sure I’ll watch it again and find even more to unpack. If you’ve seen it, let me know what you think! I’d love to hear other people’s takes on it.