However, coping with his father’s rapidly deteriorating health seems to be just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the film, the sisters fail, forced to compare their unresolved problems with each other and the years of anger that has built up as a result. It doesn’t help that they’re cramped in their dad’s brownstone apartment.
However, it seems that what brings their disorder to the surface also ends up bringing them together. Even through the intense screaming, slamming doors and painfully awkward silences, there are rare moments when they collectively reflect on life with their father and spend time together in his room. There’s even one pivotal moment where they all gather in the living room and try to mend fences after a big fight. It’s an accurate depiction of how sisters go through the inevitable cycle of becoming mortal enemies one moment and best friends the next. And although they push our buttons, they remain a part of who we are and try to be our main anchors in times of grief.
Beyond the film’s compelling themes and Jacobs’ ability to tug at heartstrings, His three daughters includes just enough humor to offset the serious tone. (Just wait until you see the look on Rachel’s face.) The entire main cast also delivers strong performances and Very are convincing as sisters, but Olsen and Lyonne stand out in particular. Olsen gives one of her most nuanced performances, with even the slightest reactions conveying the emotional turmoil she’s trying so hard to disguise. Meanwhile, Lyonne plays the role of the more distant and introspective sister who tries to avoid facing her pain and anxiety.
By the end of the film, viewers feel like they’ve lived in a brownstone and experienced the same loss, but not in a way that makes them feel overwhelmed or claustrophobic. Rather, it is a closer look at how death continues to affect the living, and a challenge for viewers to reconsider their own family ties.
FYI, this movie is not available for streaming yet, but Netflix has announced that it will be available on their streaming platform soon.