Rebecca Lenkiewicz, known for her screenwriting prowess, takes the directorial reins for "Hot Milk," an IFC Films release hitting screens in 2025. This R-rated drama, based on Deborah Levy’s novel, clocks in at a taut 92 minutes and stars Emma Mackey as Sofia, a daughter navigating the complexities of caring for her mother, Rose, played by the formidable Fiona Shaw. Vicky Krieps also features as Ingrid, a mysterious German doctor. The film delves into the unsettling journey of a mother and daughter to the Spanish coast in search of a cure for the mother's enigmatic illness. Along the way, Sofia encounters a reality far removed from the suffocating grip of her controlling mother, setting the stage for a bleak exploration of obligation, isolation, and the elusive promise of personal transformation.
Genre:Drama
"Hot Milk" unfolds as a somber narrative, set against a desolate European coastal landscape where the relentless sea mirrors the characters' internal struggles. The environment itself becomes a character, communicating through muted tones, barren shores, and overcast skies that silently observe a life defined by care and limitation. Lenkiewicz's adaptation explores the poignant reversal of caregiver roles: the nurturer becomes dependent, and caregiving evolves into a quiet, oppressive experience. This creates an unsettling dance of obligation and isolation, where the tension between fragile family connections and an unforgiving external world prompts a deep reflection on responsibility and the subtle possibility of personal change.
The film's strength lies in its profound exploration of its themes. "Hot Milk" is a raw, often uncomfortable look at the symbiotic, yet suffocating, relationship between Sofia and Rose. It delves into the dark side of parental care and the immense burden placed upon the child, particularly when the parent is manipulative. The film paints a stark picture of a daughter consumed by the enigma of her mother’s illness, a condition that seems to fluctuate conveniently to exert control. This psychological drama becomes a masterclass in portraying the insidious nature of emotional manipulation, leaving the audience to ponder the true nature of Rose's ailment – is it physical, or a manifestation of a deeper, more insidious psychological control?
Emma Mackey's performance as Sofia is central to the film's success. She effectively conveys Sofia's unspoken yearnings for both unity with and separation from her mother. However, the film relies heavily on repeated close-ups of Mackey's face, which, for some, never quite transcend a "morose moping" around the Spanish beachside town. While Mackey is undeniably talented, the character of Sofia is at times a "blank slate," stubbornly resistant to audience projection due to the film's limited relatable detail or resonant drama. This can make it challenging to fully connect with Sofia's internal struggle, despite the obvious torment she endures.
Fiona Shaw, on the other hand, is nothing short of magnificent as Rose. Her portrayal is a chilling study in passive-aggressive control and emotional blackmail. Rose's illness becomes a weapon, a means to keep Sofia tethered, sacrificing her daughter's life and desires at the altar of her own perceived fragility. Shaw imbues Rose with a sinister charm that makes her manipulation all the more unsettling. You can almost feel the weight of Rose's emotional burden pressing down on Sofia, making the audience complicit in her quiet suffering. The dynamic between Mackey and Shaw is the film's beating heart, albeit a deeply troubled one.
The directorial choices by Rebecca Lenkiewicz are deliberate and contribute significantly to the film's heavy atmosphere. She creates a visual experience that moves between moments of raw insight and shadowed uncertainty. The choice to shoot Sofia and Ingrid’s first kiss with their faces obscured in heavy shadows is indicative of the film’s larger struggle to create any "mark of distinguishment within its relationships". This artistic decision, while aesthetically striking, can leave viewers feeling somewhat detached from the emotional intimacy that could have otherwise deepened the narrative.
"Hot Milk" is undoubtedly a "feel-bad movie," and it revels in its bleakness. The unrelenting sense of dread and isolation that permeates the film is a feature, not a bug, for those who appreciate more challenging cinematic experiences. The sparse dialogue forces the audience to engage with the unspoken emotions and the simmering tensions beneath the surface. The film’s quiet, contemplative nature, while effective in building atmosphere, can also lead to moments of languidness, where the narrative feels slow and drawn out.
The film's exploration of Sofia's own burgeoning sexuality, particularly in her encounters with Ingrid (Vicky Krieps) and the enigmatic Dr. Gomez (Vincent Perez), offers a glimmer of hope and a path to self-discovery, but these relationships feel underdeveloped. Ingrid, despite Krieps's talents, comes across as a "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" from "central casting" who "cannot imbue Hot Milk with any of the heat promised by the title". This lack of chemistry or depth in Sofia's external relationships further emphasizes her inescapable entanglement with Rose.
The narrative structure seems to exist almost exclusively in service of its final confrontation between Sofia and Rose. By the time this climactic moment arrives, some viewers may have already "checked out" due to the story’s simmering tensions and slow pace. While Fiona Shaw delivers a "poignant" and "big disclosure" in this final act, it's questioned whether it's "sufficient to redeem all the languorousness that precedes her character’s turn toward the penitent and pugilistic".
In conclusion, "Hot Milk" is a challenging and often uncomfortable watch that demands patience from its audience. It’s a film that prioritizes atmosphere and psychological depth over conventional plot progression or emotional gratification. While it successfully creates a suffocating sense of familial obligation and isolation, its pacing and underdeveloped supporting relationships might test the endurance of some viewers. For those who appreciate an art-house approach to complex family dynamics and a stark portrayal of emotional abuse, "Hot Milk" offers a potent, albeit bitter, experience. However, for those seeking a more conventional or emotionally engaging drama, "Hot Milk" may have "long since spoiled into something rancid" by its close. It’s a compelling, yet ultimately draining, exploration of a daughter's existential struggle for freedom.