Daniel
The fictionalized story of Daniel, the son of Paul and Rochelle Isaacson, who were executed as Soviet spies in the 1950s. As a graduate student in New York in the 1960s, Daniel is involved in the antiwar protest movement and contrasts his experiences to the memory of his parents and his belief that they were wrongfully convicted.
Insights
Plot Summary
In 1960s New York, a young man named Daniel attends his father's trial for treason, only to witness his parents' suicide. Years later, Daniel is a college student in the late 1970s, deeply disturbed by his parents' past and convinced they were framed. He becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, leading him down a path of paranoia and potentially dangerous investigation into the Cold War-era political climate.
Critical Reception
Daniel received a mixed to positive reception from critics upon its release. While some praised its ambitious scope and Timothy Hutton's intense performance, others found the narrative convoluted and the portrayal of the McCarthy era's paranoia to be heavy-handed. Audience reception was also divided, with many finding the film bleak and difficult to connect with.
What Reviewers Say
- Praise for Timothy Hutton's dedicated portrayal of a man consumed by his past.
- Criticism of the film's dense and sometimes confusing narrative structure.
- Appreciation for Sidney Lumet's directorial skill in tackling complex political themes.
Google audience: Audience reviews for 'Daniel' are scarce and varied. Some viewers found the film to be a powerful, albeit disturbing, look at the personal cost of political persecution, while others found it overly bleak and difficult to follow.
Fun Fact
The film is based on E.L. Doctorow's novel of the same name, which itself was inspired by the real-life story of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.
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