Common Sense Media Review
By Jose Solis
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Powerful drama with suicide, language, and grief.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Elena Knows
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
As her Parkinson's progresses, Elena (Mercedes Moran) is suddenly struck by the death of her daughter Rita (Erica Rivas) by suicide. The police insist there is no mystery surrounding her death, but ELENA KNOWS better and decides to follow her intuition and unravel what really happened to her daughter.
Is It Any Good?
Characters like Elena usually don't get movies made about them. The lead character of Elena Knows is 65, a single mother with advancing Parkinson's, and she doesn't have a sweet word to say about anyone, especially not her daughter, Rita, who has devoted her life to caring for her. Elena's life is turned upside down when Rita dies by suicide. Convinced that Rita was murdered and the police are missing out on important clues, Elena sets out on her own investigation.
Ridden with guilt, spite, and an utter loneliness she would never accept, Elena is given depth and endless layers by the heartbreaking Moran, who turns in an unforgettable performance. Director Anahí Berneri lets her camera linger on Moran, who in return grants her moments where silence becomes the loudest form of grief you have ever heard. Younger audience members might not be captivated by the film's slow burn, but more mature viewers will find honest conversations about grief, loneliness, death by suicide, and the effects silence and unspoken pain can have on the lives of those society sometimes chooses to forget. Elena Knows is a film of great wisdom, if you're willing to follow its unconventional advice.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Rita's mental illness. How is depression depicted in the film and how do characters act around her?
How is Rita's relationship with Elena? What are some of their communication issues?
Elena decides to investigate Rita's death despite the police's recommendations and being told there's no case to investigate. How do people deal with grief in the film?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : November 24, 2023
- Cast : Mercedes Moran , Erica Rivas , Miranda de la Serna
- Director : Anahí Berneri
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 100 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : December 4, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate