Watch Stephanie Daley
- R
- 2006
- 1 hr 31 min
-
6.2 (1,906)
Stephanie Daley is a 2006 independent drama film directed by Hilary Brougher. The movie features an impressive cast of Tilda Swinton, Amber Tamblyn, and Timothy Hutton in the lead roles. The film follows the story of Stephanie Daley, a teenage girl who is accused of murdering her newborn baby. The incident takes place while Stephanie is on a skiing trip with her school. As a result, Stephanie is taken into custody by the local police and charged with homicide.
Lydie Crane (Tilda Swinton) is a forensic psychologist who is assigned to assist Stephanie in clearing up the details of the incident. Stephanie, however, insists that she did not give birth and that she doesn't know what happened to the baby.
The major part of the movie is dedicated to Lydie's sessions with Stephanie, where the two of them start to unravel the truth behind the tragic event. The conversations between the two bring out a traumatic past of Stephanie's life where she was sexually assaulted by her father.
Lydie helps Stephanie come to terms with her past by engaging her in different activities such as rock climbing and meditation. The two gradually create a bond, which helps Stephanie disclose the secrets she has been holding deep inside her.
Meanwhile, Lydie is going through her own struggle, as she is pregnant with a child she is not sure she wants to keep. Her own experiences with childbirth and motherhood make her acutely sensitive to the tragic incident that Stephanie was involved in.
As both women work through their issues, they find that they have much in common, even though their backgrounds are drastically different. They discover that they have been shaped by similar societal pressures and gender expectations, which ultimately result in them questioning their identity.
The film is a brilliantly crafted psychological thriller that takes us deep into the minds of two women struggling to unpack their traumas. It is a sobering depiction of the complicated nature of femininity and the pressure that women face to conform to idealized societal values.
The film is shot in a mostly cold and wintry setting – a skiing resort in the American Northeast – which further reinforces the stark nature of the storyline. The scenes are interspersed with flashbacks and dreams which show the audience different perspectives on the situation.
The acting in the movie is nothing short of stunning. Tilda Swinton delivers a nuanced performance as the psychologist Lydie Crane who is going through her own personal crisis. Her scenes with Stephanie are powerful and captivating, showcasing the strength of her acting abilities.
Amber Tamblyn's portrayal of Stephanie Daley is equally impressive. She brings out the fragility of the character, making her appear innocent and troubled at the same time. The audience oscillates between feeling sympathy for her and being unsure of her involvement in the incident.
Overall, Stephanie Daley is a gripping movie that is emotionally charged, raw, and thought-provoking. It is a movie that delves deep into the human psyche, exposing the internal struggles and complexities that people deal with. This film is a must-watch for anyone interested in a deeply introspective experience that leaves an impact long after the credits roll.
Stephanie Daley is a 2006 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2 and a MetaScore of 77.