After a drastic incident in her life, a young woman (Clara McGregor) embarks on an impromptu road trip with her estranged father (Ewan McGregor). En route to their destination of Santa Fe, New Mexico, the two are forced to confront the issues of their past that have led to their frail relationship, while encountering an eccentric array of characters along the way, in order to bring them closer together again.
REVIEW:
The big plus that pulls Bleeding Love from its often clichés of estranged father and daughter scenarios is that Ewan McGregor and irl daughter Clara Mcgregor star in it. The chemistry is built in.
The father and daughter are unnamed, driving to an unknown destination that only the father knows. The distance between them is obvious and is dry, vast and empty as the desert all around them. He is worried and nervous. She is belligerent. As we learn their backstory, a sort of naturalism is developed through the silences and conversations.
Her substance abuse problem becomes evident. The father unknown to her is taking her to a rehabilitation center. The plot is a mirror of Ewan’s and Clara’s actual relationship. It’s all depicted with rawness and honesty.
Bleeding Love is at times plodding and obvious but always heartfelt and truthful. The movie doesn’t mind showing its plot wheels. It’s the characters and journey that are important. Father and daughter McGregor know the experience of their relationship, their emotions and how to convey it vividly. He is a pro and she has an arresting face and unpretentious naturalism.
The moments where the father’s present life, full of new wife and kids, conflicts with the daughters bitter memories of the past make for bracing revelations and desires of reconciliation and forgiveness. They bare each others souls to the point where the only thing left to hold onto is each other.
Bleeding Love gets a 3.0/5 or a B. It’s streaming on Amazon Prime.
CREDITS:
Directed by
Emma Westenberg
Screenplay by
Ruby Caster
Story by
- Ruby Caster
- Clara McGregor
- Vera Bulder
Produced by
- Mark Amin
- Christine Vachon
- Clara McGregor
- Vera Bulder
- Greg Lauritano
- Mason Plotts
- Cami Winikoff
Starring
- Clara McGregor
- Ewan McGregor
- Kim Zimmer
- Jake Weary
- Devyn McDowell
- Vera Bulder
Cinematography
Christopher Ripley
Edited by
Autumn Dea
Music by
Raven Aartsen
Production
companies
- Sobini Films
- Killer Films
- Deux Dames Entertainment
- Black Magic
Distributed by
Release dates
- March 11, 2023(SXSW)
- February 16, 2024(United States)
Running time
102 minutes[1]
Country
United States
Language
English
Leave a Reply