Let it be known right here and now that Netflix is capable of putting out high quality content, contrary to what others might think. It just might be more on the rare side rather than a frequent occurrence. Case and point, writer-director Azazel Jacobs' family drama "His Three Daughters". Elizabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon and Natasha Lyonne play the titular trio as they navigate their father's final days and try to become at peace with each other after their past difficulties getting along.
Everything about this plot has been done before. With that said, "His Three Daughters" succeeds at what it sets out to do. And that is to give us a snapshot into this hard moment for these three individuals. Each actress delivers in their own distinct ways. Olsen strives to be a shining example, even when the other two are hard pressed to care. Lyonne wants to hide away and smoke, but there's a legitimate reason why she wants to keep her distance. And Coon obviously has a lot to say.
One might be keen to say she might not think before saying what she says. Clearly, this is the kind of character she's playing rather than the actress going off on a tangent. But it works because it adds to the tension of their interactions, specifically her relationship with Lyonne. We know exactly what type of person each of them is, and we get to see the dramatic developments we want to see out of this setup.
A vast majority of the story is shot inside this apartment and only occasionally goes outside to one "non-smoking" area. In a sense, "His Three Daughters" is basically at its heart a play you'd find on Broadway. Given that the father is in hospice, it makes sense to keep the settings to a minimum. And this film utilizes its minimalism to its advantage, similarly to how a film like "12 Angry Men" (1957) does. "His Three Daughters" is a film exclusively focused on character and story.
And as far as that's concerned, "His Three Daughters" is worthy of your time, especially if you watch Netflix regularly. I must admit however that the replay value is going to be very limited after a single viewing. There isn't much in the way of innovative storytelling to keep viewers coming back to a story that's on the downbeat side. But as the final verdict will attest to, you'll be satisfied with at least one viewing of "His Three Daughters".
Final Verdict: 8/10
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