Azazel Jacobs’ latest film “His Three Daughters” focuses on the profound emotion of grief through the lens of three estranged sisters. The movie had its premiere at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival where it left many viewers in tears. Natasha Lyonne, Carrie Coon, and Elizabeth Olsen give moving performances as the sisters who reunite to care for their dying father.
Set entirely in a small New York City apartment, the film follows Katie, Rachel, and Lizzie as they come together despite years apart. In the beginning, each sister seems distant and concerned with surface things to avoid facing their father’s impending passing. However, through extended scenes of muted family dynamics, Jacobs’ filming and the actors’ subtle gestures reveal deeper layers underneath.
Jacobs was drawn to exploring “the theatrics of life” and dismantling one-dimensional character stereotypes. Lyonne, Coon, and Olsen helped transform what began as basic archetypes into fully vulnerable individuals. The director worked closely with each actress to uncover emotional truths. With Olsen, they discussed never fully departing one’s roots. Coon mined her character’s strong determination, while Jacobs praised Lyonne’s ability to express great feeling without words.
Crucial to the film’s raw intimacy was the choice to not show the father until the end. His absence built powerful emotion that elevated even mundane family interactions. Embracing uncertainty pushed Jacobs’ abilities, resulting in authentic lived-in performances. In the filmmaker’s view, His Three Daughters acts as both catharsis and “prayer” for processing life’s profound changes. Through his compassionate direction and the actresses’ moving portrayals, the film finds profound depth in a family’s simple gathering amid loss.
