Rebecca Lenkiewicz (director)
(studio)
15 (certificate)
93 (length)
04 July 2025 (released)
02 July 2025
Based on a 2016 novel of the same name (which I haven’t read) by Deborah Levy, Hot Milk was adapted by writer and director Rebecca Lenkiewicz for her feature film debut.
Rose (Fiona Shaw) has been left virtually unable to walk due to a strange illness. In an attempt to find a cure Rose and her daughter Sofia (Emma Mackey) have moved to Almeria in southern Spain. There they have a small house but more importantly Rose is receiving (expensive) treatment from Dr Gomez (Vincent Perez) at his clinic.
Sofia isn’t totally convinced, though Rose feels some improvement through both psychological assessment and a change of drug regime. While Rose confines herself mostly to the house and clinic, Sofia has time to look around the town meeting Ingrid (Vicky Krieps) with whom she has a fling.
It’s a brief respite from the pressure of living with her very demanding and selfish mother. Rose seemingly has something to say about everything apart from issues with her own family, which she is holding back on. These are teased out as the film progresses.
It’s safe to say that this is a film that the actors got their teeth into. The characters, by and large, are well developed, most holding onto secrets that are weighing them down mentally, leading to an element of intrigue.
However the core of the film is the relationship between Rose and Sophia. It’s fairly obvious that for all the love that Sophia has for her mother, the constant talking, opinions and criticisms are stretching her patience.
Mackey and Shaw are excellent in these roles. This isn’t a sparing contest, lobbing witty barbs between each other. It’s one person grinding on with little or no self-awareness, while the other tries to lead something of her own life and discover more about it.
As good as the acting and as beautifully filmed as the film is, it’s not that engaging and meanders from one character trauma to the other.
The main question is how far Rose’s condition is psychosomatic and is Dr Gomez a creepy charlatan? The latter isn’t crucial but indicates how the mind may wander at times during this film.
Hot Milk will be in UK cinemas from 4 July 2025.
