What Maisie Knew Movie Poster Image

What Maisie Knew

age 15+
(i)

 

Wrenching drama about child custody can spark discussion.
Watch
Write a review
See all 3 user reviews
  • Review Date: May 1, 2013
  • Rated: R
  • Genre: Drama
  • Release Year: 2013
  • Running Time: 98 minutes

What Maisie Knew gallery

What parents need to know

Positive messages

Separations can be very hard on children, especially when their parents aren't placing the kids' best interests first. But the world is full of kind-hearted people who are able to shower these kids with the care and attention they need. And though there is heartbreak, there's also hope.

Positive role models

Lincoln and Margo are the unexpected bright points in Maisie's difficult, though privileged, life. And Maisie herself is a wonder, able to still find whimsy and good in a world that's filled with emotional neglect.

Violence

Parents fight and curse at each other in front of their young child. Sometimes they place their child in danger by neglecting her.

Sex

Allusions to sex, rather than actual sex scenes. A man flirts with and later marries his child's babysitter; his ex-girlfriend marries a young man she just met. Some kissing.

Language

Strong language, sometimes used around a 6-year-old, includes "f--k," "s--t," and "a--hole." A woman gives a man the finger while their child is in plain sight.

Consumerism

Labels/products seen include Apple and Pyrex. Nothing excessive.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking

Adults drink and smoke socially, sometimes around children.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that What Maisie Knew is a moving, sometimes disturbing drama that examines the world through the lens of 6-year-old Maisie, a downtown New York City girl whose glamorous parents (Julianne Moore and Steve Coogan) are breaking up loudly and painfully in front of her. Some scenes may be difficult to stomach, especially for kids whose parents are going through or have undergone a divorce or separation. Maisie is often shown in heartbreakingly neglectful situations -- at school, with neither parent remembering to pick her up; being shuttled back and forth between apartments; etc. She also sees her parents fight and swear ("f--k," "s--t") at each other, and adults drink and smoke around her/other children.

What's the story?

Six-year-old Maisie (Onata Aprile) is the pawn in the middle of her parents' tragic chess game. They're separating and can't agree on anything, including who should have primary custody and what Maisie's day-to-day existence should be like. Not that they're fully aware of how she's faring, anyway. Her mother, Susanna (Julianne Moore), is a rock star who's trying to stay relevant. She's moody and very angry at Maisie's father, Beale (Steve Coogan), and she isn't shy about expressing her disdain loudly and colorfully, whether Maisie is around or not. Beale, an art dealer with a struggling business, has no respect for Susanna and doesn't attempt to hide this from Maisie. If not for Margo (Joanna Vanderham), Maisie's loving nanny, life would be totally chaotic. But then Beale decides he likes Margo, too, suddenly marrying her -- a "challenge" that Susanna answers by marrying Lincoln (Alexander Skarsgaard), a sweet young bartender she just met. As Susanna and Beale's fighting escalates, Margo and Lincoln find themselves taking up most of the slack, trying to keep Maisie's unstable life as safe and kind as they can.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

Prepare to hold your heart in your hand; if you don't, it will fall into pieces after seeing WHAT MAISIE KNEW. Very few films have so eloquently distilled the ache and misery of being a child caught in the tug-of-war between two angry parents locked in a custody battle, neither of whom is truly capable of protecting their child from the emotional harm they're unwittingly inflicting. There are all sorts of parental misfires on display here: A dad co-opts the one adult who hasn't let his child down (her caregiver), without appreciating the damage that inflicts, and he makes promises he can't keep because he's too focused on his work and on "winning" against his ex-girlfriend in court. A mother can't stop telling her daughter how much she cares (and you can see she really does), but she's too broken to realize that she spends more time arguing with her ex or her lawyer to actually enjoy her daughter and show her that she's truly the center of her world. And that's just the beginning. 

Inspired by a Henry Miller novel, What Maisie Knew punches hard, albeit with subtlety. Painful scenes aren't overplayed; instead, they're allowed to unfurl in all their heartbreaking glory, unburdened by loud swells of music or showy acting. (Every single actor delivers a stunning performance, with the wide-eyed, sweet-faced Aprile best of all.) It packs a punch with truth, and although Maisie's situation is very specific -- her parents are of a very affluent, very downtown Manhattan type with a lifestyle that few people live -- her experience is unfortunately universal. We need to know what she knows.

Families can talk about...

  • Families can talk about how What Maisie Knew portrays the experiences of children whose parents are in the middle of an acrimonious divorce or separation. Do you think it's realistic?

  • Talk to your kids about what divorce/separation is -- and the impact it can have on a family.

  • What makes a family? What makes a good parent? What does this film contribute to that discussion?

Movie details

Theatrical release date:May 3, 2013
DVD release date:August 13, 2013
Cast:Alexander Skarsgard, Julianne Moore, Steve Coogan
Directors:David Siegel, Scott McGehee
Studio:Millennium Entertainment
Genre:Drama
Topics:Great girl role models
Run time:98 minutes
MPAA rating:R
MPAA explanation:some language

This review of What Maisie Knew was written by

S. Jhoanna Robledo
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are conducted by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging; great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging; good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging; good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging; OK learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

Find out more

About these links

Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization, earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes when you use our links to make a purchase. Thank you for your support.

Read more

About Our Rating System

The age displayed for each title is the minimum one for which it's developmentally appropriate. We recently updated all of our reviews to show only this age, rather than the multi-color "slider." Get more information about our ratings.

Great handpicked alternatives

For kids who love drama

Drama Movies That Tug at the Heartstrings
Indie Films
See all recommended movie lists

Browse more movies

Top advice and articles

What parents and kids say

See all user reviews

Share your thoughts with other parents and kids Write a user review

A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines

Teen, 14 years old Written byBlueHorse January 5, 2014
age 13+

This is a fantastic movie

This movie is really really good. The director has some absolutely beautiful shots. The young girl, Maisie's actress does very well for a child her age. Although, this movie is hard to watch. The parents are always fighting, the mother marries to get back at the father who married, and they often neglect Maisie. The language is bad when her two parents fight. Maisie does find good in Lincoln and Margo, her parents' spouses. Eventually, after the father leaves, the mother basically gives up so maisie can be with Lincoln and Margo, who are much better guardians.
Was this review useful?
Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 16 years old Written bySean Broucek June 10, 2013
age 12+

Heart-Wrenching Drama For Mature Kids.

Parents, this movie based on the celebrated novel by Henry James has some heated arguing and thematic material, but is fine for mature kids. Violence is pretty low, but includes heart-wrenching scenes of arguing. Some people may get upset watching this film, because of the elements of divorce and child imperilment. No sexuality. There Is some language, which includes s--t and f--k, but nothing else. Rated PG-13 For Emotional Thematic Material, Some Brief Violence, & Language.
Was this review useful?
Flag as inappropriate 
Adult Written bywonder dove August 19, 2013
age 14+

2 Thumbs Up!!

This movie is beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed it! It's a side of Julianne Moore I've never seen before. Her rock star character was bold and somewhat unlikable, which was different. The cast is excellent and the little girl who plays Maisie was fantastic! This story is about a very busy unwed couple, Susanna and Beale, who no longer get along and are separated. But their sweet daughter Maisie is caught between them while she witnesses her parents' constant arguing when they are together. Maisie is passed around from caregiver to caregiver after her mother becomes jealous of her long-time nanny Margo. Margo and Maisie have a special bond that cannot be broken but when Susanna discovers that Margo and her ex Beale are seeing each other, she freaks out and wants nothing to do with her. Meanwhile, to get back at Beale, Susanna marries a handsome young bartender named Lincoln while Beale marries Margo but their love for one another on both sides isn't really there. Lincoln soon becomes attached to Maisie too and they both share a close bond that steals your heart, but it frustrates Susanna when she see's her daughter happy around everyone but her, causing her to start unnecessary arguments with Lincoln. In the end, things start to unfold and Susanna realizes that Maisie's happiness is most important. It's sad and heartwarming at the same time. Language is strong but not too frequent, some f-words in front of a child along with other curse words. Violence includes lots of arguing and yelling, and neglecting a small child. Sexual content is mild - a woman marries a younger man she just met right after splitting up with Maisie's father, some brief flirting and a sweet kiss. Some smoking and drinking but not frequent. Excellent for 14+ who don't mind a bit of curse words but highly recommended to adults.
What other families should know
Great messages
Too much swearing
Was this review useful?
Flag as inappropriate 

See all user reviews

Poll

Did our review help you make an informed decision about this product?

Family Media Agreement