‘She Came to Me’ Movie Review
Exploring the Multifaceted Relationships in ‘She Came to Me’
In “She Came to Me,” writer/director Rebecca Miller skillfully imbues her heightened characters with an authentic touch, showcasing her growing mastery of infusing warmth and humor into her work. While the premise could easily lean into either farce or tragedy, she deftly maintains a delicate balance in between. The film boasts exquisite performances, masterful direction filled with charm, and a surprising depth of wisdom and sweetness.
However, anticipate a departure from predictability. “She Came to Me” might unsettle those seeking a familiar tone or direction, but for many, this unpredictability will be a welcomed feature. In Rebecca Miller’s prior work, “Maggie’s Plan,” Greta Gerwig portrayed a warm-hearted, idealistic young woman entangled in a complex romantic situation with an older, pretentious, married literature professor.
Here, Miller once again introduces us to characters whose pretensions revolve around art, who are emotionally needy, and captivated by the notion of love, yet struggle with the practicalities of day-to-day relationships. These characters often attempt to exert control over their world, leading them and those around them towards inevitable failures. Significantly, the film begins with the evocative aria from Carmen, translating to “Love is a rebellious bird,” setting the tone for the unpredictable journey ahead.
Peter Dinklage delivers a brilliant portrayal of Steven, a character who balances imperiousness with vulnerability. Steven, a once-successful opera composer, grapples with a formidable writer’s block as his deadline looms and his librettist quits in frustration. He is married to Patricia (played by Anne Hathaway), a therapist who finds solace in thorough housecleaning and enjoys envisioning herself scrubbing away mistaken thoughts from her patients’ minds during sessions. Patricia’s attire consists of simple, stark black and white, and she exudes patience more in a therapeutic manner than affectionately.
In a fleeting moment, Patricia is seen tidying the kitchen with a dust buster, about to switch it off, when Steven enters and indicates that he’s drawing inspiration from its B-flat hum. She continues operating it until he signals, like a conductor, that the inspiration has run its course. Patricia does lose her composure, however, when Steven’s shoes soil the comforter.
Patricia also has a teenage son from her previous marriage, Julian (played by Evan Ellison), a gifted student who specializes in STEM solutions for mitigating climate change.
In another family of three, we find yet another reflective prism within the film’s narrative. Joanna Kulig takes on the role of Magdalena, an undocumented immigrant employed as a cleaner by Patricia and Steven. Though not married, Magdalena shares her life with Trey (portrayed by Brian d’Arcy James), who has legally adopted her teenage daughter, Tereza (embodied by Harlow Jane), and embraces the role of her father wholeheartedly. Trey is characterized as a passionate, if somewhat overbearing, individual—a Civil War re-enactor who obsesses over historical precision. He takes great pride in his work as a court reporter and the extensive legal knowledge he’s acquired through years of transcribing trials.
Tereza, like her counterpart Julian, exhibits remarkable aptitude in STEM fields. Together, they have collaborated on a forward-looking “futurist” science presentation, eagerly anticipating what the future may hold. In stark contrast, Trey remains deeply entrenched in his meticulous re-creation of historical minutiae from the past.
These two teenagers share a common bond of growing up with surrogate fathers. Unbeknownst to Patricia and Magdalena, they both come to realize that their children are the result of unplanned pregnancies. Patricia, determined to pursue her medical training, handled the situation with humor, quipping, “I just didn’t sleep for three years.” On the other hand, Magdalena’s journey was less fortunate. While she deeply cherishes her daughter, she carries profound regrets about having to sideline her own dreams. This has fueled her determination to ensure that Tereza remains undistracted in her pursuit of professional aspirations.
However, as fate would have it, while cleaning Julian’s room, Magdalena stumbles upon photographs that reveal an intimate connection between him and Tereza. This discovery ignites her deepest fears, as she dreads that her daughter might end up experiencing a fate similar to her own.
Growing increasingly exasperated with Steven’s creative block, Patricia encourages him to take their dog for a walk as a means to clear his mind and find inspiration. During his stroll, he stumbles upon a dive bar where he encounters Katrina (portrayed by Marisa Tomei), a tugboat captain adorned in warm, earthy colors—a stark contrast to Patricia’s black-and-white attire. Katrina takes him to visit her boat and, in a candid moment, admits her struggle with romantic obsession.
Surprisingly, Steven’s encounter with Katrina doesn’t deter him; instead, it leads to a passionate encounter between them. Strangely enough, this liaison sparks a newfound creative energy within him, inspiring him to craft an opera centered around a homicidal tugboat captain. And somehow, the opera is a triumph.
As a conflict emerges between Julian and Tereza, the allegiances among the adults undergo a transformation and become more evident. While Miller incorporates a touch of operatic exaggeration for the older characters, her profound respect for the teenagers infuses the film with a lively optimism. This optimism creates space for the joys of complexity and simplicity, doubt and aspiration, and the importance of honesty regarding one’s needs. When all else fails, the film encourages the audacious pursuit of unconventional solutions.
Currently screening in cinemas.
Film Credits
Cast
Peter Dinklage as Steven Lauddem
Marisa Tomei as Katrina
Anne Hathaway as Patricia
Brian d’Arcy James as Trey
Joanna Kulig as Magdalena
Harlow Jane as Tereza
Jen Ponton as Elodie
Aalok Mehta as Anton
Samuel H. Levine as Raef Gundel
Chris Gethard
Director
Rebecca Miller
Writer
Rebecca Miller
Cinematographer
Sam Levy
Editor
Sabine Hoffman
Composer
Bryce Dessner
By: M Z Hossain, Editor Sky Buzz Feed
