Hot Milk initially premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival, and will premiering in theaters this upcoming weekend. Written & directed by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, the film stars Emma Mackey, Fiona Shaw, Patsy Ferran, Yann Gael, Vangelis Mourikis, Vincent Perez, and Vicky Krieps. Rose (Shaw) and her daughter Sofia (Mackey) travel to the Spanish seaside town of Almería to consult with the shamanic Dr. Gomez (Perez), a physician who could possibly hold the cure to Rose’s mystery illness, which has left her bound to a wheelchair. But in the sultry atmosphere of this sun-bleached town Sofia, who has been trapped by her mother’s illness all her life, finally starts to shed her inhibitions, enticed by the persuasive charms of enigmatic traveler Ingrid (Krieps).

When the film was first presented to me to watch early before its theatrical release, I had to say yes, all because of Emma Mackey. Mackey has been a tremendous actress since I first saw her in Sex Education. Even with the film’s low score, which I will get into later, I personally do believe Mackey is smart with the projects she picks. I can understand the lower rating, but there is no denying between the performances and the shocking ending that this is something that I think should be talked about more.

The main reason why I think this has such a low score has to do with the different storylines. It can be jarring, especially when the film is told in 93 minutes including the credits. Between F1 and M3GAN 2.0, it may be hard to convince people to check this out. Last I checked, there doesn’t appear to be many screen times for the film’s theatrical release. Even through it’s flaws, there is an artistic quality to it that makes worth watching. If you want something mentally stimulating that gives you something to talk about, then look no further. I’ve mentioned this about IFC films before, but I will continue to support them as much as I can. It feels like they’re distributing original, thoughtful films.

At the film’s best, Emma Mackey gives a tremendous performance that requires her to say so much with saying so little. Fiona Shaw consistently makes you second guess if she’s telling the truth. This mother-daughter storyline is truly the heart of the film, and it’s most interesting, especially based on where it ends.

At the film’s worst, the 93-minute runtime leaves much to be desired. There are components of the story that do feel rushed, making the film’s tone unsure of what it wants to be, thus leading to what feels like an identity crisis. The story involving the love relationship is underwhelming. Vicky Krieps does a great job with what she’s given, but I had a hard time believing the chemistry between her and Mackey. Maybe that’s just me feeling more invested in the mother-daughter storyline.

The open-ended, ambiguous conclusion is surely set to divide people. I can even see viewers questioning what the whole point was. I personally love conclusions that end on a note that makes you think. Based on how the film ends, it got me thinking more about everything that came before. The slow pacing doesn’t make me excited to rewatch it, but I still think I could catch something on a second watch. The ending also does feel unrealistic for what it is. I still enjoyed how it ends thematically. I just wanted more of a throughline between the mother and the love interest in the end.

There is also a storyline involving a father that works. Again, it’s also underwhelming. It gives more context to the character Emma Mackey is playing. I truly felt for her character. With its short runtime, you can see the potential for something more here. It may create a divisive reaction, but it gives you plenty to think about. The story doesn’t quite always land. The performances make up for it.

Visually, the film looks great. You can feel the sun soaking into the landscape. It manages to capture a new location unfamiliar with me that makes me feel even closer to the location. Even during its nighttime scenes, the sound design immerses you into the reality of each scene. It may create a slower pacing for some, yet it made me connect with how human and realistic these characters were.

Overall, Hot Milk is set to test viewers. I can understand the lower ratings as the overall story feels like it lacks direction based on how much it jumps around. Mackey & Shaw are putting on an acting class, the cinematography is gorgeous, and the ending leaves you pondering on everything you just saw.

VERDICT: 3/5 (Good)