Oscars Check-In: ‘The Lost Daughter’ Is The Most Underappreciated Of This Year’s Nominees

Though The Lost Daughter only received three Oscar nominations (two for acting), the awards ceremonies recognizing indie films have shown this movie much greater appreciation. Already netting 22 awards, Maggie Gyllenhaal’s adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s The Lost Daughter is not one to miss.

A professor with a troubled past is vacationing alone in Greece; unexpectedly, she absorbs herself in the life of another woman and her daughter. Watching these two strangers and feeling annoyed by their large family, the main character Leda revisits some memories of her early years of motherhood.

• Olivia Colman - Leda Caruso

• Jessie Buckley - Young Leda Caruso

• Dakota Johnson - Nina

• Ed Harris - Lyle

• Paul Mescal - Will

• Peter Sarsgaard - Professor Hardy

• Dagmara Domińczyk - Callie

Until The Lost Daughter, the world only knew Maggie Gyllenhaal as an actor. After minor early roles in Donnie Darko and Adaptation, her career slowly gained traction until she received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in Crazy Heart. Recently, she received acclaim for the lead role of The Kindergarten Teacher.

The real identity of Elena Ferrante, also the author of the Neapolitan quadrilogy (beginning with My Brilliant Friend), is unknown. This Italian author has made a name for themselves with numerous translations, including award-winning English translations by Ann Goldstein.

Though this film is a mystifying watch without easy answers to difficult questions, Gyllenhaal's grasp as a debut filmmaker is not worth ignoring since you can easily stream it on Netflix. If indie film sensibilities and complex characters float your boat, The Lost Daughter could be a 2021 favorite. Because of its blatantly unheroic and challenging lead character, The Lost Daughter might scare some folks away. However, those staying for inspired filmmaking and even better performances from Colman and Buckley will be in for a treat.

Stream The Lost Daughter anytime on Netflix!