The most heartbreaking on-screen death of the year doesn’t take place in a violent brawl or a gunfight, but rather within the confines of a quiet New York City apartment. If you are prepared for an emotional journey, Netflix’s His Three Daughters is a true tear-jerker.
Over the past nine months, Netflix has provided audiences with plenty of emotional moments that tug at the heartstrings.
While there may not have been a significant number of impactful death scenes on the streaming service… that has changed. Unlike the kills in Longlegs or the tragic incidents in Mother’s Instinct, the most devastating death scene of 2024 is linked to a father’s struggle with terminal illness in His Three Daughters, now available on Netflix.
We are about to delve into that gut-wrenching conclusion, so SPOILERS AHEAD…
This new film follows three sisters as they navigate their father’s final moments. Throughout the storyline, unresolved tension lingers between them. Although we don’t see their father battling for life in his room, everything changes in the climactic moment when his death unfolds on screen.
The daughters bring him into the living room, where he surprisingly seems to regain consciousness and shares heartfelt thoughts with them, expressing all the things he wishes they knew over the years. Yet, the reality is more profound—he has actually succumbed while his consciousness appears to drift away.
It’s an undeniable tear-jerker, and interestingly, it’s a moment that director Azazel Jacobs didn’t fully anticipate.
“I felt like I set up this rule, but this rule is there to be broken. I enjoy films that venture into unexpected territories. Then I realized how meaningful it would be if we had a moment to express, ‘I love you and I’m sorry,’” Jacobs explained.
“It became essential for me to understand who this father character was, so that I could truly grasp his absence on screen. I felt that if we never portrayed him, we would end up with a very condensed, simplistic film.
“Since it happens this way, it leads to a place you grapple with, transforming the film into something much different from typical expectations.”
If you’re not yet convinced by the idea of a drawn-out portrayal of death, His Three Daughters boasts a flawless 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
According to Robert Daniels at Screen International, “The profoundly emotional dive into sisterhood and grief that is His Three Daughters serves as a poignantly crafted elegy about the heart-wrenching impact of saying farewell to a parent.”
Similarly, Ethan Dayton at That Shelf noted, “His Three Daughters demonstrates that all you need to create something unforgettable is a relatable story that resonates and the exceptional talent able to bring it to life.”
His Three Daughters has been available to stream on Netflix since September 20. For more Netflix updates, including Virgin River Season 6, Stranger Things Season 5, and Heartstopper Season 3, be sure to check frequently. You can also explore new movies streaming this month.
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