HOT MILK is a psychological drama starring Emma Mackey. It’s not an easy watch, in many ways, but it is an important one. Also, it has a very strong ending that I personally loved. Despite the main character being an adult, this is very much a queer coming-of-age story. Read our full Hot Milk movie review here and find it on Hulu now!
HOT MILK is a movie I’ve wanted to watch ever since I first heard about it. Admittedly, this had to do with two things mainly. First, the short plot description. Second, the cast featuring three amazing women. I promise to get back to both these points later on.
For now, let me just say that this coming-of-age psychological drama is both heartbreaking and healing. Emma Mackey is amazing in the lead role, and I found myself rooting for her in ways I rarely experience. You just want to help her, while also wanting her to help herself. It’s a powerful experience with a runtime of just 93 minutes.
Continue reading our Hot Milk movie review below. The movie can be found on Hulu and VOD now.
Holding on and letting go
Hot Milk is the story of Sofia (Emma Mackey), who has devoted her entire life to her mother. Sofia is an adult woman, trying to get her degree, but is currently traveling with her mother for some sort of experimental procedure.
Her mother, Rose (Fiona Shaw), has a strange illness, which has resulted in her not being able to walk. There is nothing physically wrong with her, but she experiences pain and relies on her daughter for pretty much everything.
So, now they’re in a small town on the Spanish coast trying to find a cure for an illness that may not even exist. Of course, something is wrong with her mother, but it’s probably psychological more than physical. This also appears to be the belief of the doctor working with her.
Sofia needs to let go of her mother, which is very difficult, when she is holding on ever tighter.
Standing up for yourself
While the treatment begins, Sofia heads out on her own. This is when she meets Ingrid (Vicky Krieps). A woman who goes after what she wants, and when she sees Sofia, she wants her. This appears to open up a new world for Sofia, where she is allowed to be desired and have the spotlight on her for once.
Of course, it’s nowhere near as simple as that. Before long, it’s clear that her new romantic interest, Ingrid, and her controlling mother, Rose, have more in common than you’d assume. Mostly, they need Sofia in ways that do not benefit Sofia… in fact, they both take a toll on her.
Still, meeting Ingrid has shifted something for Sofia. She realizes there is a life to be led away from her controlling mother. In fact, it may even be what her mother needs to heal.
It’s certainly what Sofia needs if she’s to ever be happy. Watching Hot Milk is seeing someone discover the power of standing up for oneself. Something most LGBTQ+ people learn early on, when they realize they are different. Sure, there are many of us, but we are not the norm.
Should we forget, there will always be someone ready to remind us. As a result, we learn to stand up for ourselves (and each other). The alternative is not surviving. This cannot be acceptable to anyone, so we have to fight… just like Sofia!
Watch Hot Milk on Hulu or VOD now
Rebecca Lenkiewicz is the writer and director of Hot Milk. If her name sounds familiar, it’s for good reason. Rebecca Lenkiewicz also wrote the screenplays for Disobedience (2017), starring Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams, and Colette (2018), starring Keira Knightley.
Both movies feature queer women falling for other women, just like Hot Milk.
Also, both those movies are based on books, which this one also is. In the case of Hot Milk, it’s based on the book by Deborah Levy. This is also the first time Rebecca Lenkiewicz has directed the movie herself, which I hope she will continue to do. And yes, this is actually her directing debut, which is just astounding!
From the setting to the plot, pace, and the characters, generously portrayed by a wonderful cast, this movie just worked so wonderfully for me. Even better than I ever anticipated. Emma Mackey (Sex Education, Barbie), Fiona Shaw (Killing Eve, Echo Valley), and Vicky Krieps (Old, Phantom Thread) are all magnificent in their respective roles!
Womentainment recommendation: Watch Hot Milk as soon as you can!
This is a movie that surprised me in many ways, but didn’t let me down in any. Hot Milk is a movie with an ending that is bold and brave. Just like its main protagonist, Emma Mackey’s “Sofia”, ultimately is.
Director: Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Writer: Rebecca Lenkiewicz (based on a book by Deborah Levy)
Cast: Emma Mackey, Fiona Shaw, Vicky Krieps, Yann Gael, Patsy Ferran, Vincent Perez
Official plot:
With a strange illness, a mother and her daughter embark on a journey to the Spanish coast to find a cure, and along the way the daughter discovers another reality far from her controlling mother.
