The bitter and introspective seventeen year-old Emanuel (Kaya Scodelario) is a troubled girl that lost her mother giving birth to her and she feels guilty for her loss. She lives with her father Dennis (Alfred Molina) and her estranged stepmother Janice (Frances O'Connor) in a house in the suburb. Emanuel has not gone to college and works in a drugstore with her colleague Arthur (Jimmi Simpson). She uses to flirt with the teenager Claude (Aneurin Barnard) in the train she uses to go to her job.
When her next door neighbor Linda (Jessica Biel) offers Emanuel to be the babysitter of her newborn Chloe, Emanuel accepts the job offer but she does not see the baby that is sleeping. But Emanuel and Linda feel connected to each other and Emanuel visits Linda in her leisure time to help her with Chloe. When Emanuel finally sees Chloe, she realizes that her new friend is living a great illusion but she keeps her secret. When Linda dates Arthur, the touching truth about her is disclosed.
"The Truth About Emanuel" is a beautiful movie with a sensitive and touching story of loss and friendship. Emanuel and Linda are troubled women bonded by their losses. The beginning of the story is ambiguous and the viewer is never sure whether what Emanuel is seeing is her insane perception or reality until the moment that her stepmother visits Linda. I believe the water is a metaphor with the amniotic fluid that connects Emanuel and Linda and rebirth, but I did not understand the meaning of fishes. The performances are great and despite the bad reviews, the viewer may like it like I did. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "A Grande Ilusão" ("The Great Illusion")
When her next door neighbor Linda (Jessica Biel) offers Emanuel to be the babysitter of her newborn Chloe, Emanuel accepts the job offer but she does not see the baby that is sleeping. But Emanuel and Linda feel connected to each other and Emanuel visits Linda in her leisure time to help her with Chloe. When Emanuel finally sees Chloe, she realizes that her new friend is living a great illusion but she keeps her secret. When Linda dates Arthur, the touching truth about her is disclosed.
"The Truth About Emanuel" is a beautiful movie with a sensitive and touching story of loss and friendship. Emanuel and Linda are troubled women bonded by their losses. The beginning of the story is ambiguous and the viewer is never sure whether what Emanuel is seeing is her insane perception or reality until the moment that her stepmother visits Linda. I believe the water is a metaphor with the amniotic fluid that connects Emanuel and Linda and rebirth, but I did not understand the meaning of fishes. The performances are great and despite the bad reviews, the viewer may like it like I did. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "A Grande Ilusão" ("The Great Illusion")