His Three Daughters” Delivers a Poignant Exploration of Sisterhood and Grief

Many films have made a splash at the box office and on streaming services this year, arguably positioning themselves as strong contenders for “Best Picture” at the 2025 Academy Awards.

However, none has generated as much conversation as Azazel Jacob’s “His Three Daughters.” Premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) before its release on Netflix, the film delves into family dynamics, grief, and the unspoken tensions that linger between siblings with strong personalities.

Sisters—Katie (Carrie Coon), Rachel (Natasha Lyonne), and Christina (Elizabeth Olsen)—reunite under one roof to care for their terminally ill father in his final days in hospice care.

Katie, the oldest daughter, takes charge of ensuring her father’s needs are met, including making sure that his Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) form is signed correctly.

In contrast, Rachel, the middle child, copes with her father’s illness by staying outside the home, smoking a blunt and confiding her feelings to her neighbor Victor (Jose Febus) and boyfriend Benjy (Jovan Adepo).

Christina, the youngest daughter, processes her emotions by bottling them up while taking the most care of her father, often reassuring her husband and daughter over the phone that “everything is fine” when it is clearly not.

One of the film’s strengths lies in its raw, honest, and unflinching portrayal of familial relationships. Coon, Lyonne, and Olsen deliver performances that are both nuanced and emotionally charged.

Their characters scream, yell, and curse at one another, all while attempting to make the right decisions for their father. This honesty reaches new heights, especially in the film’s climax, where the sisters’ fight in the doorway serves as a testament to their pent-up anger, released only onto each other as the smell of death permeates the air.

“His Three Daughters” presents both the good and the ugly sides of the sisters without casting blame for their flaws.

Jacob’s masterful directing allows Katie, Rachel, and Christina to exist without condemnation, encouraging audiences to sympathize with them even when their actions and words hurt one another. Furthermore, Jacob avoids plot over-complication and melodrama, allowing tension to build naturally through the sisters’ silences and conversations. Although some critics have noted that the film’s pacing can be slow, this quality amplifies the story’s intimate nature and immerses viewers in the discomfort and complexity of the sisters’ fractured relationships.

The confined space of the family home serves as a potent symbol, amplifying the film’s emotional intensity.

The film’s cinematographer; Sam Levy captures this claustrophobic atmosphere through tight framing, emphasizing how trapped the sisters feel—not just physically, but mentally. They are helplessly watching their father die while struggling to control their overwhelming emotions towards one another. The home itself becomes a character, filled with memories, regrets, and impending grief as their father’s life ebbs away before their tearful eyes.

It is challenging to identify a standout performance in “His Three Daughters” because Coon, Lyonne, and Olsen each bring emotional depth necessary for the film. Coon’s portrayal of the oldest daughter exhibits toughness and leadership as she guides her sisters in writing the obituary and handling funeral arrangements.

Lyonne embodies the middle child, a haphazard blunt addict who, prior to her sisters’ arrival, has been her father’s sole caregiver. Her silent yet palpable resentment of their absence is evident in her strained tone and visible hostility.

Olsen’s depiction of the youngest daughter reveals an optimist who often acts as a mediator between her older sisters. Even as she struggles internally, her positivity brings a touch of color to the film’s otherwise gloomy narrative.

The film shines a light on the harsh realities of caregiving, capturing the ugly emotions that surface when faced with the impending loss of a loved one. Yet amid the tension, “His Three Daughters” finds moments of humor, love, and shared vulnerability that reflect the complex bonds of sisterhood.

Rather than providing easy answers or neat resolutions, “His Three Daughters” meditates on the messiness of life, loss, and love, illustrating how family relationships are often characterized by a mix of resentment and affection. Although Katie, Rachel, and Christina put their differences aside to listen to their father’s final words, it does not imply that all is quiet on the home front, and sometimes, that is perfectly acceptable.

“His Three Daughters” is not a light film; it is deeply personal and serves as a poignant reminder of the complex relationships among siblings, the pain of unresolved conflict, and the unbreakable bonds that persist even when stretched to their limits.

While it may be emotionally draining, it lingers in the viewer’s mind long after the credits roll.

“His Three Daughters” is now available for streaming on Netflix.

Release Date: September 9, 2023 (TIFF), September 20, 2024 (Netflix)

Runtime: 1 hour 44 minutes, and 59 seconds

Streaming Service: Netflix

Director: Azazel Jacobs

Cast: Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, Elizabeth Olsen, Rudy Galvan, Jose Febus, Jasmine Bracey, Jay O. Sanders, and Jovan Adepo