Eleanor the Great review June Squibb takes on Holocaust survivor trauma in Scarlett Johansson's iffy directing debut
Briefly

Scarlett Johansson's directorial feature debut, penned by Tory Kamen, showcases a sincere narrative highlighted by June Squibb's touching performance as Eleanor Morgenstein, a widowed Jewish woman. However, the film's treatment of its Holocaust themes is overly simplistic and sentimental, lacking the depth necessary for such a profound subject. As Eleanor navigates her painful past and attempts to connect with her daughter and grandson after the loss of a friend, her journey becomes overshadowed by the film's clumsy handling of complex issues surrounding aging, identity, and trauma.
Scarlett Johansson's directorial debut features a nuanced performance by 95-year-old June Squibb, but the film struggles to address its Holocaust theme adequately.
The film's sentimentality undermines the intense struggles associated with its main Holocaust narrative, presenting a naive interpretation of serious themes.
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