SummarySingle mother Sandra (Clare Dunne) escapes her abusive partner with her two young children, only to find herself trapped in temporary accommodation. After months of struggling, she draws inspiration from one of her daughter’s bedtime stories and hits upon the idea of self-building an affordable home. She finds an architect who provides her with p... Read More
Directed By:Phyllida Lloyd
Written By:Clare Dunne, Malcolm Campbell
Herself
Metascore
Generally Favorable
70
User score
Generally Favorable
7.2
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
Not available in your country?
ExpressVPN
Get 3 Extra months free
$6.67/mth
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
74% Positive
17 Reviews
17 Reviews
26% Mixed
6 Reviews
6 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Jan 26, 2020
100
Many filmmakers mistakenly think that exploiting tragedy is the way to jerk tears from their audience, when in fact, gestures of spontaneous kindness shown by near-strangers can be most moving — something Lloyd understands, boosting the positive energy with anthems like “Chandelier” and “Bulletproof.”
Jan 25, 2020
83
Lloyd’s feature strikes a fine balance between all of life’s ups and downs, illustrated by Sandra’s unfortunately relatable traumas and a series of stellar performances.
User score
Generally Favorable
89% Positive
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
11% Mixed
1 Rating
1 Rating
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Feb 20, 2021
10
A must watch for women who struggle with not realizing their own strength within. I absolutely loved the inspirational message in this fantastic movie. Bravo Clare Dunne!
Jan 16, 2021
8
This storyline pulls at one's heart strings. Characters are developed nicely with purpose and depth. The acting is excellent.
Jan 7, 2021
80
Dunne's performance is quietly assured; Sandra's strength may waver, but it never falters. You root for her. You root for the movie, something that Lloyd purposely makes difficult to do at times. That’s going to throw some people, no doubt. But she resists easy resolution, making “Herself” a satisfying experience.
Oct 18, 2020
75
Regardless of missteps with the ending, the majority of Herself is soulful and empathetic enough to do justice to its subject, doing the important job of reminding audiences everywhere how important community truly is for survivors.
Jan 12, 2021
63
The film, earthy and sober, refuses to be carried aloft by sentiment, instead navigating a difficult and painful path toward self-preservation and renewal.
Dec 30, 2020
60
That silver-lining nature is also what keeps “Herself” from entirely distinguishing itself, too often leaving an admittedly powerful story about female fortitude to rely on schematics and clichés instead of the accumulated impact of its many well-played human details.
Nov 9, 2023
5
'Herself' shows the failures of a system that does not care about victims; in this case, a woman abused by her partner. What begins as a social drama in the vein of Ken Loach's works suddenly becomes a sentimental melodrama with inspiring musical montages and manipulative situations. It's a shame because the leading performance and the discourse about DIY housing as a way to beat the system bring us closer to the frustration of the working class in the first world.
Production Company:
- BBC Film
- British Film Institute (BFI)
- Element Pictures
- Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland
- Merman
Release Date:Dec 30, 2020
Duration:1 h 37 m
Rating:R
Tagline:Life under construction.
Website:
Awards
Irish Film and Television Awards
• 1 Win & 6 Nominations
Dublin International Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards
• 2 Nominations
