Venice Film Festival’s Family Drama Gets a Twisty Turn
Tilda Swinton returns to the big screen in a role that flips the usual mother‑daughter dynamic on its head. In The Eternal Daughter, the celebrated actress donates two souls to one set of bones, playing both the grizzled mother and the middle‑aged daughter.
What the Film’s About
Set in the dead‑cold of a remote country hotel that once belonged to the mother’s aunt, the movie follows a tense, two‑woman dialogue. The creaking floorboards and groaning joists provide a spooky backdrop, but the story is driven by family secrets that keep the audience guessing.
Director’s Vision
British filmmaker Joanna Hogg brings her signature eeriness to this piece, fresh from her earlier works The Souvenir and The Souvenir Part II. While Swinton had originally played the mother in those films, she now steps up to portray both characters, letting her seasoned feel for the role carry over.
- A decaying manor that feels alive but is laced with ghosts.
- Wintery, isolated setting that amplifies tension.
- The film is “rooted in memory and experience,” according to Hogg.
Swinton’s Surprise Twist
The actress comes to Venice sporting bright yellow hair—a subtle nod to the Ukrainian flag. This, she said, made it instantly clear that playing both roles was the perfect pick. She built on her earlier portrayal of the older mother, while she had to “think twice” for the daughter, a character portrayed by her own daughter in previous films.
In a fun aside, Tilda revealed that her dog, Louis, steps into the drama to add a touch of moody atmosphere. “My dog can do anything I tell him,” she chuckled. “If you’ve got a pro dog, it’s not about who you are—it’s about the guy who’s got a sausage in his pocket.”
Why It Works
The film’s genius lies in its unsettling blend of realism and spectral undertones. Tilda’s dual performance adds a layer of depth that makes the mother-daughter relationship more than just a script—it’s a mirror reflecting generational echoes.
