Where Is Kyra?

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Where Is Kyra?
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 suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Where Is Kyra? is a dark, heavy drama about a woman (Michelle Pfeiffer) caught in a worsening spiral of financial distress after her elderly mother's death. The main issues here are strong language (not constant, but including "f--k," "s--t," "bulls--t," etc.) and drinking. Some characters overdo it, once leading to a drunken hookup. Sex between consenting adults is heard but not shown; there's also heavy making out, and a woman is seen in her underwear in low light. The film's oppressive tone/mood will likely make it too intense for younger viewers. Kiefer Sutherland co-stars.
Community Reviews
There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
After her elderly mother dies, unemployed Kyra (Michelle Pfeiffer) works unsuccessfully to make ends meet. She finds comfort in a new relationship with slightly less-struggling Doug (Kiefer Sutherland), but that hardly solves her crushing financial problems. As eviction approaches, Kyra resorts to a desperate scheme. The Sundance-selected WHERE IS KYRA? was directed by Andrew Dosunmu, who also co-wrote the story.
Is It Any Good?
This dark drama effectively conveys the oppressive stress of Kyra's situation, but a pall hangs over the whole endeavor. Dosunmu and award-winning cinematographer Bradford Young (Arrival) tend to use camera setups that keep viewers at a distance. Subjects are shown down the hall, in another room, at the other end of the bar. Private rooms are underlit, and the characters exist in shadows. Takes are very long and static, offering little relief from the depressive air. Although Dosunmu generally creates an atmosphere that's permeated with emotion, sometimes his directorial hand feels distractingly heavy, as when loud, discordant music tells us something's wrong -- or in slow-motion scenes accompanied by string arrangements.
Pfeiffer seems to take some time to settle into the film -- though once in, she delivers one of her strongest performances. You feel how crushing the weight is upon Kyra as she hustles and scrambles. Kyra's bad decisions seem excusable thanks to the suffocating environment that Pfeiffer, Dosunmu, and screenwriter Darci Picoult generate. And Sutherland is a welcome presence. His work is right in the groove of the film. Where Is Kyra? looks at modern American poverty from an angle that's not usually seen on-screen, especially with big-name stars. This slow, weighty drama won't be for everyone, due to its pace and sometimes airless hopelessness, but for the willing, it's artfully realized.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how poverty and those struggling with it are typically shown on-screen. How does that compare to the portrayal in Where Is Kyra? How did seeing an actress like Michelle Pfeiffer playing someone struggling with poverty affect your perception of the story?
How does the movie depict drinking? Why do you think the characters drank, and drank too much? Was it glamorized at all?
Do you think Kyra had exhausted all other options before embarking on her scheme? Were you on her side? Is she a sympathetic character? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters: April 6, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: July 3, 2018
- Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Kiefer Sutherland, Suzanne Shepherd
- Director: Andrew Dosunmo
- Studios: Paladin, Great Point Media
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language and some sexuality
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love drama
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