"Second, and most radically: We hear Linda's child but do not see her. At first this feels uncomfortable, even frustrating. But Bronstein has explained it simply: The moment you see a child's face, that's where your empathy goes (especially a sick one). In fact, this child, played by a sweet-voiced Delaney Quinn, is not even named. This movie's about Linda, remember?"
"Perhaps the only clearly thinking person in the whole film is James, the motel handyman, who actually likes Linda and tries to help. A$AP Rocky has an easy charisma in the role, but Linda is incapable of focusing on him, or anyone else. And that includes her child. Even though her days are devoted to the girl, shuttling her to appointments and filling that infuriating tube, we sense that Linda, amid the chaos, has forgotten what her offspring looks like."
The movie centers on Linda, an overburdened mother whose life revolves around a sick, unnamed child. Intense close-ups focus on Linda's face, conveying exhaustion and emotional distance. Her husband, a cruise captain, remains distant and critical over the phone while a working therapist fails to prioritize her needs. Linda struggles with medical decisions, including removing a feeding tube, and faces judgment from a stern doctor. A motel handyman, James, shows genuine concern, but Linda cannot engage with him or others. The director intentionally never shows the child's face to keep empathy anchored to Linda.
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