What Maisie Knew

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Beate
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What Maisie Knew

#1 Post by Beate » Fri Aug 09, 2013 2:08 pm

Just got my Picturehouse membership ticket for the preview on Sunday. Looking forward to it.
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Re: What Maisie Knew

#2 Post by tsoiboy » Sun Aug 11, 2013 1:59 pm

Saw this today at Greenwich Picturehouse.

It is a film essentially about a divorce seen through the eyes of a young girl, Maisie.

I really liked this film. It is shot as a bit of an Arthouse Indie film. Where these quiet parts of lingering soft focus shots on the surroundings where nothing is said is just as important as the conversations between the adults.

This type of film has been done before but it is in fact based on a Henry James novel published at the end of the 19th century. The story then still has relevance in today's time.

The acting was good from everyone and Maisie played by Onata Aprile gave a delicate performance. This film does not play on the emotions too much and is a straight forward observation.

8/10
Last edited by tsoiboy on Sun Aug 11, 2013 2:02 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Beate
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Re: What Maisie Knew

#3 Post by Beate » Sun Aug 11, 2013 2:00 pm

Well that was a bit of a mess at Greenwich this morning. The Times+ woman started asking people for their Times+ membership cards until the Picturehouse usher told her that, actually, they ought to go down and exchange their printouts for proper tickets. Why no one told them that at the start downstairs is anyone's guess. She then asked me for my Times+ card so I had to tell her that mine was a membership printout and that all she had to to is scan it. What the point of her being there, not knowing anything like that was, I do not know, especially since once the tickets are exchanged for the PH printouts, no one knows anymore whether you were a Times+ or a Picturehouse ticket holder. Also, I heard later that the Times+ members staged a little revolt about having to exchange tickets, blocking the stairs and asking for the manager. What that would help I don't know - it's always been like this, whether Times+ or SFF - only Picturehouse members can walk right to the screen door.

We got at least 7 trailers, most of which looked really good, especially the one for The Way, Way Back and Rush (with Daniel Bruehl as Nikki Lauda).

I thought the film was fascinatingly, heartbreakingly good. It basically told the story of a couple's divorce and remarriages through the eyes of their young child. Little Maisie was shunted from pillar to post, from Mum to Dad to stepfather to stepmother. It was actually amazing how those two selfish, horrible people managed to find second spouses as nice as those were. You saw all the warfare and access arrangements played out, with not much consideration for what or who was really best for Maisie - it was just about point scoring between parents who didn't really have time for their child and offloaded her to their other halfs all the time, with her mother then inexplicably getting jealous at her new spouse for getting along just great with her child. What a cow she was. All this selfishness lead to Maisie being abandoned at one point entirely, a heartbreaking scene. You just wished with all your might that she would end up with the people she really deserved in her life - and who deserved her. I sat there with a lump in my throat almost all the way through. What a gem.

Apparently this is an adaptation of a Henry James story - I might seek it out.

9/10
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Re: What Maisie Knew

#4 Post by yogi » Sun Aug 11, 2013 2:12 pm

A very touching, emotional film with some fantastic performances especially from the adorable girl playing Maisie.

We get to glimpse quite an unpleasant, toxic relationship breakdown and aftermath through Maisie's eyes but the film never gets heavy handed or depressing. It's emotional, yes but the lightness of touch results in some nice comic moments at times especially when we hear Maisie interpret the situation in a child's way.

One to watch 9/10.
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Re: What Maisie Knew

#5 Post by Beate » Sun Aug 11, 2013 2:19 pm

yogi wrote:especially when we hear Maisie interpret the situation in a child's way.
If you are referring to the "He is allergic" scene, that was just heartbreaking. This little girl knows more than she lets on and still makes excuses for her inadequate parents.

At least she quietly stood up for herself at the end and we can just hope that her mother's rare moment of realisation will continue.
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Re: What Maisie Knew

#6 Post by yogi » Sun Aug 11, 2013 2:38 pm

Beate wrote:
yogi wrote:especially when we hear Maisie interpret the situation in a child's way.
If you are referring to the "He is allergic" scene, that was just heartbreaking. This little girl knows more than she lets on and still makes excuses for her inadequate parents.

At least she quietly stood up for herself at the end and we can just hope that her mother's rare moment of realisation will continue.
Yes I was, also thought the scene when Maisie introduced Lincoln to her class was really sweet.
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Re: What Maisie Knew

#7 Post by newdot » Sun Aug 11, 2013 2:41 pm

Schmaltzy melodrama that turned into what looked like a Ralph Lauren advert from 15 years ago.

ps I'm sure that Steve Coogan said "Ha-Ha", perhaps twice.

4/10. Not risible. Not worth missing a Sunday morning lie-in for, either.

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Re: What Maisie Knew

#8 Post by funthing29 » Sun Aug 11, 2013 3:43 pm

Poignant, subtle and sensitive but never venturing into melodrama. Strong performances from the entire cast (and especially Onata), believable but flawed characters, and an intuitive insight into a custody battle told through the child's perspective. I got teary eyed watching this and fell in love with Maisie. One of my top films of 2013. 9/10.
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Re: What Maisie Knew

#9 Post by Livi92 » Sun Aug 11, 2013 3:54 pm

Very realistic look at how divorce affects the child involved. Heartbreaking at times. Great performances from all the cast.
8/10
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Re: What Maisie Knew

#10 Post by canadian_turtle » Sun Aug 11, 2013 5:07 pm

This film was beautiful. I quickly fell in love with Maisie, such a perceptive and intelligent little girl and it's a surprise she turned out as well as she did with those parents. I initially thought her father wasn't half-bad (especially compared to the selfish and irresponsible mother) but he too let her down. On one or two occasions I was sat watching with a lump in my throat because of what they put the poor girl through. In the end it was the nannie and bartender who seemed to care more for the girl than her own parents. I really loved the characters of Margot and Lincoln and rooted for them all throughout the film. 8/10
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