Loosely based on Henry James’ 1897 novel of the same name, What Maisie Knew is the story of a young girl whose world is torn apart when her reckless parents decide to separate and the court grants them joint custody. Frivolous and selfish aging rocker Susanna (Julianne Moore) appears, in the beginning, to adore Maisie (Onata Aprile) more than anything and fights tooth and nail to get sole custody, but when egotistical Beale (Steve Coogan) marries Maisies’s adoring Nanny Margo (Joanna Vanderham) the court decrees his living situation ideal and grants joint custody. In order to get one back on her ex partner, Susanna marries cute bartender Lincoln (Alexander Skarsgård) so Maisie has someone to look after her when Susanna is at work.
In the beginning the parents would do anything to spend time with Maisie but the cracks begin to show and it soon becomes clear that Maisie is the last thing on their minds. When Beale disappears to Europe and Susanna goes on tour it falls to Lincoln and Margo to look after Maisie. Soon, as they take over as sole carers it becomes clear that Maisie may never go back to either of her parents if they ever show up again.
Julianne Moore is perfection as the careless rocker, she exudes cool but is a complete emotional wreck. Scottish born Joanna Vanderham is delectable as the sexy nanny Margo, seducing the pathetic as always Steve Coogan character but tapping into her history of being a child from a broken home to show real sympathy, warmth and motherly affection toward Maisie. Alexander Skarsgård is reminiscent of his character Eric on True Blood when the witch wipes his memory, and he starts acting like a lost child, bewildered at the prospect of caring for a child, but finding himself loving her more and more.
The stand out performance of course is Onata Aprile, whose innocent but knowing performance conjures up memories of a young Dakota Fanning in I Am Sam. She may just be the next child star who can actually act, lord knows it’s been a while.
The film is all too heart breakingly real in this day and age, when children are used as pawns in selfish hateful parents evil games of divorce chess, but portrays the resilience of children who have some semblance of adult role-models in their lives, and who are young enough to be enchanted by turtles and boats.
What Maisie Knew is in Australian cinemas from 22 August through Madman Films.
