Movie Review: ‘Herself’

Review by James Lindorf

Working within the welfare system is often a Sisyphean task for Sandra. Still, she is determined to rebuild her life for her two little girls even if she has to do it ““Herself”.” Acclaimed director Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia!, The Iron Lady) is back after a nine-year break to tell Sandra’s story of trying to escape the grip of her possessive and abusive ex-husband. Up-and-coming stage actress Clare Dunne worked with Lloyd on her all-female stage version of Shakespeare’s Henry IV, stars as Sandra. In addition to starring, Dunne also co-wrote the screenplay with Malcolm Campbell (What Richard Did). Joining Dunne in the cast are Harriet Walter (Killing Eve), Conleth Hill (Game of Thrones), Molly McCann (Vivarium), and Ruby Rose O’Hara a talented young actor making her feature film debut. “Herself” will receive a limited theatrical run starting December 30th before being available on Amazon Prime on January 8th, 2021.

My two biggest complaints with “Herself” may seem a bit trivial to most, but this is a hard watch, and one little thing could make some viewers give up on the film. The first issue is that Dunne and Malcolm Campbell’s script gets a bit outrageous with the number and size of the hurdles placed in Sandra’s way. It is a bit of Murphy’s Law where everything can and does go wrong. Topping it off is how many people in her life range from, at best unsympathetic to downright mean. Your boss being a jerk maybe something you can take on a typical day, but when it comes minutes after your ex tries to take your kids away, reactions may vary. The second issue has to do with the title. Yes, Sandra decides on her own to build their home instead of waiting for the system to place them in one. However, she is helped every step of the way, and some of that help is so significant it borders on improbable. It is a nitpick, but I think another title could have balanced, highlighting her strength while acknowledging her community’s help.

The complaints are small, and Dunne’s emotional performance, which pulls the audience to her cause no matter how crazy it gets, could have cast a shadow over more glaring issues. Everyone in the cast gives a good performance, and at this time, I can’t think of a weak link; however, there are two others worthy of mentioning. McCann and O’Hara are undoubtedly the best child actors I have seen since Haley Joel Osment at Abigail Breslin. The comparison to Breslin is inescapable for O’Hara. She has a similar look to the “Little Miss Sunshine” star and has an equal talent for blending innocence and precociousness. I look forward to watching their long careers if they decided to continue acting as they get older.

No one knows quite how award season will work this year, but I believe “Herself” has a chance to receive a few nominations in the acting, direction, and original screenplay categories. It may not have that chance in a typical year without so many films having been pushed back. A small Irish film would not get this much time in the American spotlight, but it may be coming out at just the right time to be acknowledged worldwide for what it does so well. It has already received multiple nominations and wins at film festivals in England, Ireland, and Spain. No narrative film impacted me in 2020 like “Herself,” and I would love to see it be recognized.