Bleeding Love is the promising debut of director Emma Westenberg and is written by Ruby Caster. It tells the story of a father’s unbreakable love for his drug-addicted daughter. Real-life father and daughter team Ewan McGregor and Clara McGregor play the on-screen duo.
On the surface, Dad (Ewan McGregor) has taken his estranged Daughter (Clara McGregor) on a road trip for some bonding time. Most of the movie is just the two of them in the car. As they drive about, we gradually learn some shocking revelations. A dropout from art school, daddy’s little girl is now a sickly drug addict. She has a thin, spidery physique with a ghostly white face. Her bladder is uncontrollable. She vomits randomly.
We learn that Dad, a middle-aged man who runs a landscaping company, is not the wholesome guy he appears to be. He’s a former alcoholic who previously abandoned his daughter and ex-wife to start a new family with another woman. The strained love between Dad and Daughter comes into greater and greater focus as the trip continues. Will Daughter finally accept Dad back into her life and renounce the addictions she inherited from him?
“…Dad has taken his estranged Daughter on a road trip…”
Overall, Bleeding Love is a masterpiece of drama, passion, and family psychology. It is a very impactful movie that’s ultimately about something universal and beautiful: the father-daughter relationship. The narrative is a perfect example of natural storytelling. Each scene flows logically into the next one. It is very fast-paced and engaging, and subtle comedy is creatively sprinkled in to relieve the dramatic tension.
Next is the directing. The camera work is impeccable. All the scenes are crisp, colorful, and visually appealing. Extreme close-ups and shaky cam consistently keep your attention. The smooth, clever editing effortlessly shifts between nostalgic flashbacks and the present moment.
Finally, the acting deserves praise. The performances are perfect. Through her beautiful feminine face, the blue-eyed Clara McGregor expresses a full spectrum of emotion: the deepest depression, as well as the most ferocious anger. Ewan McGregor perfectly executes his role as a reformed, alcoholic-turned-loving father. He sells the heaviness Dad’s actions took on him all these years.
Taking its name from Leona Lewis’ song of the same name, Bleeding Love is a beautiful ballad of a father’s infinite love for his daughter despite his own imperfections. It is a deeply powerful story and an enjoyable watching experience. The story is real, the directing subtlety emboldens the emotions, and the two McGregors are excellent. I thoroughly recommend this drama.
"…beautiful..."
