Olivia Colman (‘The Favourite’), Jessie Buckley (‘Wild Rose’), Dakota Johnson (‘The Peanut Butter Falcon’) and Peter Sarsgaard (‘The Batman’) have all landed role in ‘The Lost Daughter,’ the directorial debut of ‘The Deuce’ and ‘Frank’ star Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Based on Elena Ferrante’s 2006 novel of the same name, the film tells the story of a divorced, middle-aged mother and English professor named Leda (Colman) on a seaside summer vacation, who becomes consumed by Nina (Johnson) and her young daughter, as she watches them on the beach. Unnerved by their compelling relationship, and their raucous and menacing extended family, she becomes overwhelmed by her own memories of the terror, confusion and intensity of early motherhood.
Forced to consider the unconventional choices she made as a young mother and the consequences they had for her family, Leda begins to unravel. Lost in ways she can’t explain, she finds herself caught in the strange and ominous world of her own mind.
In addition to writing and directing, Gyllenhaal will also serve as producer on the film, with Talia Kleinhendler and Osnat Handelsman-Keren, through their company Pie Films and Charlie Dorfman.