What Maisie Knew

What Maisie Knew

Year: 2013

Runtime: 99 min

Language: English

Director: Scott McGehee

DramaFamily

A young girl named Maisie finds herself caught in a bitter custody dispute between her parents. As Julianne Moore and Steve Coogan portray the feuding couple, the drama explores the impact of their conflict on their tender six-year-old daughter, played by Onata Aprile. The escalating battle threatens Maisie’s innocence and forces her to question the possibility of genuine love amidst the turmoil of her fractured family.

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Timeline & Setting – What Maisie Knew (2013)

Explore the full timeline and setting of What Maisie Knew (2013). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The film is set in contemporary times, focusing on the modern dynamics of family relationships and custody battles. It reflects current societal issues surrounding parenting, divorce, and the emotional needs of children in tumultuous environments.

Location

New York

The movie takes place in the bustling city of New York, known for its vibrant arts scene and multifaceted culture. It serves as the backdrop for the chaotic lives of Maisie's parents, highlighting the contrast between their public personas and private struggles. The city’s dynamic nature mirrors the emotional turmoil experienced by the family.

🏙️ City 🎨 Art 🏡 Home

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:11

Main Characters – What Maisie Knew (2013)

Meet the key characters of What Maisie Knew (2013), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Maisie

Maisie is a perceptive six-year-old girl who serves as the emotional center of the story. Despite her young age, she navigates the complexities of her parents' tumultuous relationship, often feeling like a pawn in their battles. Her innocence and desire for love draw her towards the caring figures in her life, highlighting her resilience.

👧 Child 💔 Innocence 👨‍👩‍👧 Family

Susanna

Susanna is a passionate rock singer driven by her career ambitions, often neglecting her daughter's emotional needs. Her selfish decisions and attempts to reclaim control lead to escalating tensions, reflecting the struggles many parents face in balancing personal aspirations with familial responsibilities.

🎤 Musician 💔 Jealousy 🎭 Drama

Beale

Beale is an international art dealer whose dedication to his career often puts him at odds with his parental role. His detachment and choice to escape to the UK signify a deeper avoidance of emotional responsibility, illustrating the impacts of professional priorities on family dynamics.

🎨 Art Dealer 🌍 Ambition 💼 Career

Margo

Margo is Maisie's compassionate nanny who becomes a pivotal figure in her life. Her nurturing nature provides the stability that Maisie craves, turning her into a secondary caregiver. As the story unfolds, Margo's bond with Lincoln offers a glimpse of hope amid the chaos.

👩‍🏫 Caregiver ❤️ Compassion 🏖️ Support

Lincoln

Lincoln is a bartender who unexpectedly enters Maisie's life through Susanna. His affable nature provides comfort and friendship for Maisie, and his growing relationship with Margo adds another layer of complexity. Despite being an outsider, he becomes a symbol of support in her tumultuous world.

🍹 Bartender 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Friendship 💕 Connection

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:11

Major Themes – What Maisie Knew (2013)

Explore the central themes of What Maisie Knew (2013), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

👶 Childhood Innocence

Maisie's perspective as a young child reveals the complexities of adult relationships while highlighting her desire for stability and love. Despite the chaos around her, she exhibits resilience and a keen understanding of her surroundings. The film showcases how children absorb the emotional landscape created by their parents' conflicts.

💔 Parental Conflict

The theme of parental conflict is central to the narrative, showcasing how the turmoil between Susanna and Beale affects their daughter, Maisie. Their selfish pursuits and chaotic choices lead to profound impacts on her emotional well-being, reflecting on the consequences of adult decisions on children.

🌊 Love and Belonging

Through the nurturing presence of Margo and the unexpected bond with Lincoln, the film explores themes of love, acceptance, and the quest for belonging. Maisie’s choice to stay with them symbolizes a search for a stable foundation amidst parental instability, showcasing the necessity of emotional support in a child's life.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 22:11

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Movies with a child's perspective like What Maisie Knew

Stories where adult conflict is filtered through a child's innocent understanding.Explore movies like What Maisie Knew where complex adult dramas are seen through the eyes of a child. If you liked the innocent yet perceptive viewpoint in this film, you'll find similar stories that capture the emotional weight of adult turmoil from a vulnerable and tender perspective.

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Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically feature a young protagonist navigating a world of adult problems they cannot fully comprehend, such as divorce, family secrets, or societal unrest. The story's power comes from the contrast between the child's simplicity and the complexity of the situations they witness, often leading to a loss of innocence.

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These movies are grouped by their unique narrative lens, which evokes a specific blend of empathy, sadness, and protectiveness in the viewer. They share a tender yet often somber tone, focusing on emotional resilience and the profound impact of adult actions on a child's world.

Bittersweet found family movies like What Maisie Knew

Emotional journeys where new connections offer hope amidst heartbreak.Discover bittersweet found family movies similar to What Maisie Knew. If you appreciated the hopeful connection between Maisie and her surrogate caregivers, you'll enjoy these emotional dramas where characters build new, meaningful relationships to heal from past wounds and neglect.

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Narrative Summary

The plot typically follows a protagonist escaping a toxic or neglectful situation and gradually forming deep, healing bonds with an unlikely group of people. The journey is emotionally heavy, acknowledging the scars of the past while affirming the possibility of love and safety in new configurations of family.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their core emotional arc: moving from profound sadness or loneliness toward a hopeful, yet realistically earned, resolution. They share a bittersweet tone, a steady pacing that allows relationships to develop naturally, and a heavy emotional weight centered on themes of resilience and connection.

Unlock the Full Story of What Maisie Knew

Don't stop at just watching — explore What Maisie Knew in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what What Maisie Knew is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

What Maisie Knew Summary

Read a complete plot summary of What Maisie Knew, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

What Maisie Knew Summary

What Maisie Knew Timeline

Track the full timeline of What Maisie Knew with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

What Maisie Knew Timeline

What Maisie Knew Spoiler-Free Summary

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What Maisie Knew Spoiler-Free Summary

More About What Maisie Knew

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about What Maisie Knew: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

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