The Daughter (2015 film)

The Daughter is a 2015 Australian drama film directed by Simon Stone, in his directorial debut. It is loosely based on Henrik Ibsen's play The Wild Duck.

The film stars Geoffrey Rush, Ewen Leslie, Anna Torv, Miranda Otto, and Odessa Young. It follows a man, Christian (Paul Schneider), who returns to his hometown for his father's (Geoffrey Rush) wedding. While there, he unearths a long-buried family secret that threatens to shatter the lives of those around him, particularly those of his childhood friend Oliver (Ewen Leslie), Oliver's wife Charlotte (Miranda Otto), and their teenage daughter Hedvig (Odessa Young).

The plot revolves around Christian's investigation into the past and his attempts to reveal a truth that has been deliberately concealed. His actions, driven by a misguided sense of righteousness, ultimately have devastating consequences for the family he seeks to "help."

The film explores themes of family secrets, guilt, forgiveness, and the destructive nature of truth. It received mixed to positive reviews, with critics praising the performances of the cast, particularly Young and Rush, but noting the heavy-handedness of the narrative in relation to its source material. It premiered at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival.