Book Vs. Movie The Lost Daughter
The 2008 Novel by Elena Ferrante Vs the 2021 Maggie Gyllenhaal Directorial & Screenplay Debut
The Margos are up for a psychological drama and wow--does The Lost Daughter deliver! The movie is the writing & directing debut of actor Maggie Gyllenhaal who tells the story of Leda Caruso (played by the amazing Olivia Colman) who struggles with her identity as a mother years after her children have grown and gone on their own.
Set in Greece, adult Leda meets the messy and gorgeous Nina who is younger with a small child she seems to love unconditionally. Lena is traveling alone and Nina has a large noisy family with her and between a "detente" on beach chairs and Leda is able to find three-year-old Lena when she takes off on vacation. Nina’s family embraces her without knowing anything about Leda, she has stolen Lena’s beloved doll.
Leda as a young wife and mother felt left behind in her teaching career and overwhelmed with taking care of two young daughters. She tries to be patient and loving with her spouse and children but she is filled with rage. Leda is not a “natural mother” and feels the best thing to do is to leave her children behind.
Now she is 48, single, and trying to navigate life knowing her daughters resent her and not knowing how to make amends to them. Nina has her own secrets and questions her own ability as a parent.
The film by Gyllenhaal asks the audience to try and have empathy for Leda while acknowledging her shortcomings. It’s a truly amazing debut and we have thoughts about both the book and film.
So, between the original story and the 2021 adaptation--which did we prefer?
This episode is sponsored by Kensington’s newest “small-town romance with a big heart” novel by Kate Pearce Romancing the Rancher. It’s the sixth installment of a series about the Millers of Morgan Valley who live in Morganville, California.
Pearce is a New York Times bestselling author and her sexy and heartwarming stories are known to have unconventional characters and subverting romance cliches. In Romancing the Rancher we have Evan Miller who dreams of leaving the family ranch and joining a rodeo tour. He meets Josie Martinez who has bull riding in her genes but dreams of living in San Francisco instead as a tech entrepreneur.
You can follow Kate Pearce at KatePearce.com and on Twitter @Kate4Queen
In this ep the Margos discuss:
- The mystery behind author Elena Ferrante
- The basic story of the novel & film (we include spoilers!)
- The debut work of Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Starring: Olivia Colman (Leda Caruso, 48,) Jessie Buckley (Leda Colman twentysomething,) Dakota Johnson (Nina,) Ed Harris (Lyle,) Peter Sarsgaard (Professor Hardy,) Dagmara Dominczyk (Cassie,) Paul Mescal (Will,) Robyn Elwell (Bianca,) Ellie Blake (Martha,) Jack Farthing (Joe,) Oliver Jackson-Cohen (Toni,) Athena Marin (Elena,) and Panos Koronis as Vassili.
Clips used:
- Professor Hardy (Peter Sarsgaard) and Young Leda (Jessie Buckley)
- The Lost Daughter trailer
- Elena loser her doll
- Bon Jovi dance scene
- Leda admits to stealing the doll
- Music by Dickon Hinchliffe
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