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Herself

Play trailer 2:31 Poster for Herself R Released Dec 30, 2020 1h 37m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 140 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
Single 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 plans and is offered land by Peggy (Harriet Walter), a woman she cleans for. Aido (Conleth Hill), a building contractor, appears willing to help, too. But as her past rears its head in the form of Gary (Ian Lloyd Anderson), her possessive ex, and as bureaucrats fight back against her independent spirit, will Sandra be able to rebuild her life from the ground up?
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Herself

Herself

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Critics Consensus

Sensitively directed by Phyllida Lloyd and brought to life by co-writer Clare Dunne's starring performance, Herself charts one woman's journey with empathy and grace.

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Critics Reviews

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Christina Newland iNews.co.uk Herself stays formally interesting in its use of jagged flashback structure and a woe-filled but fiery monologue about the treatment of women, wives and mothers from Dunne. Rated: 3/5 Sep 23, 2024 Full Review Mark Kermode Kermode & Mayo's Film Review It's got foundations rooted in reality. The body off the house is in-between the dream and the fulfillment, and it's roof has its head in the air...I enjoyed it very much. Sep 21, 2021 Full Review Donald Clarke Irish Times Lloyd makes something genuinely nightmarish of the worst attacks, but Dunne's creased vulnerability ... keeps us tethered to waking reality. Rated: 4/5 Sep 17, 2021 Full Review Annlee Ellingson CineWomen Phyllida Lloyd’s Herself is a modest Irish movie about a single mom who builds a little house for herself and her two young daughters. Sweet enough, but the circumstances that motivate her plan ... throb with urgent topicality. Jul 28, 2024 Full Review M.N. Miller Ready Steady Cut Clare Dunne gives a resilient and empowering performance. Rated: 3.5/5 Sep 11, 2022 Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies “Herself” is an interesting mix of clear-eyed movie realism and life-affirming drama. Rated: 4/5 Aug 17, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (53) audience reviews
Saundra H E the storyline and acting was job well done Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/03/21 Full Review First L Horrible movie!!!!! !!!!!! Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/06/21 Full Review Maura D It's a very engaging movie. It shows what can happen if people don't just judge. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Outstanding performances keep "Herself" from being just another formulaic movie about a mother trying to establish a home for her and her children after leaving an abusive lowlife husband. Claire Dunne is especially impressive as the abused wife who had the strength to leave. The girls who play her daughters were also great, seemingly actual sisters in real life by their interaction and natural chemistry with one another. 3 stars Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Liz F Astonishingly good. Terrific acting by Clare Dunne, the abused single mom, as well as by the very young girls playing her two daughters. The story unfolds with so much hope and determination with a believable but tragic finale. I highly recommend this one! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/15/22 Full Review Audience Member What an amazing film...just brilliant 👏 👌 😀 👍 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews
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Herself

Herself: Movie Clip - Take the Land Herself: Movie Clip - Take the Land 1:40 View more videos
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Movie Info

Synopsis Single 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 plans and is offered land by Peggy (Harriet Walter), a woman she cleans for. Aido (Conleth Hill), a building contractor, appears willing to help, too. But as her past rears its head in the form of Gary (Ian Lloyd Anderson), her possessive ex, and as bureaucrats fight back against her independent spirit, will Sandra be able to rebuild her life from the ground up?
Director
Phyllida Lloyd
Producer
Rory Gilmartin, Ed Guiney, Sharon Horgan
Screenwriter
Malcolm Campbell, Clare Dunne
Distributor
Amazon Studios
Production Co
Merman Films, BBC Films, Element Pictures, British Film Institute, Screen Ireland
Rating
R (Some Domestic Violence|Language)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 30, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 8, 2021
Runtime
1h 37m
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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