Herself (2020): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Herself is a 2020 drama directed by Phyllida Lloyd, starring Clare Dunne as Sandra, Harriet Walter and Molly McCann. It runs 1 hour 37 minutes and earned $779,092 worldwide. It won 1 award from 5 nominations, including Best Script at the IFTA Awards 2021. Critics gave it 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10. Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 37m (97 min)
- Director
- Phyllida Lloyd
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
English
- Studio
- Amazon Studios
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Herself About?
The premise of Herself without spoilers.
Sandra, a single mother, struggles to provide for her children and finds inspiration in a children's story. Determined to create a stable home for her family, she embarks on an ambitious project to build a house. Facing resistance from authorities and grappling with personal hardships, Sandra must draw on her resilience to overcome obstacles and rebuild her life with hope and determination.
Herself Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- mother daughter relationship
- little girl
- building a house
- domestic violence
- abusive husband
- husband hits his wife
- child custody
- irish
- title directed by female
- husband beats his wife
- ireland
- friendship
+38 more Show fewer
- flashback
- birthmark
- arm injury
- arson
- coming together to help each other
- pinky promise
- broken hip
- man hits a woman
- living in a hotel
- single mother
- arm brace
- girl
- husband wife relationship
- husband kicks his wife
- violence
- dublin ireland
- f rated
- reference to god
- father daughter relationship
- father son relationship
- restraining order
- boots
- hammer
- power saw
- woman uses a walker
- woman uses two canes
- woman uses a cane
- friendship between women
- friend
- female judge
- candle
- food
- eating
- caregiver
- money
- flash forward
- singer
- singing
Where to Watch Herself
Stream it on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Herself Cast & Characters
Clare Dunne leads the cast as Sandra, with Harriet Walter as Peggy and Molly McCann as Molly. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd; 16 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Phyllida Lloyd
- Clare Dunne as Sandra
-
Harriet Walter as Peggy -
Molly McCann as Molly - Conleth Hill
Also Starring in Herself
· 12 more- Sean Duggan Ciaran Crowley
- Cathy Belton Jo
- Eimear Morrissey Grumpy Woman in Queue
- Ian Lloyd Anderson Gary
- Liz Fitzgibbon Homeless Woman in Car Park
- Rebecca O'Mara
- Anita Petry Rosa
- Art Kearns John the Pub Landlord
- Ericka Roe Amy
- Ruby Rose O'Hara Emma
- Shadaan Felfeli Shop Keeper
- Sarah Kinlen
Herself Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Herself 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 70 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 82/100, strongest in character & emotion (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (70).
Herself Echo Score Breakdown
In overall terms, Herself stands as a quietly powerful drama that combines grounded realism with a hopeful narrative of perseverance. The jagged flashback structure and moments of grace sustain engagement, while Clare Dunne’s nuanced performance anchors the emotional core. Some viewers noted minor plausibility concerns in certain plot details and pacing variations in the latter half. Nevertheless, the film achieves a cohesive examination of resilience, delivering an inspiring yet measured portrayal of personal renewal.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 85
In terms of art and craft, Herself exhibits assured direction and an engaging editorial structure. The jagged flashback approach maintains formal interest and underscores narrative tension. Production design subtly evokes domestic environments without drawing undue attention. Overall, the film’s visual and structural craftsmanship effectively supports the story’s emotional stakes.
- Character & Emotion 90
When it comes to character and emotion, the film is anchored by Clare Dunne’s resilient and nuanced performance. Her portrayal conveys creased vulnerability and determination, while supporting performances add depth to familial bonds. Emotional resonance is heightened through credible interactions that reflect the trauma and hope at the story’s core. In sum, the characters convey authentic emotional journeys.
- Story & Flow 75
In terms of story and flow, Herself unfolds with earnest engagement and thematic urgency. The narrative’s flashback structure introduces backstory in a non-linear yet coherent manner. While certain plot elements—such as the feasibility of self-funded housebuilding and courtroom exchanges—stretch plausibility, the film maintains focus through sustained emotional stakes. Overall, the story delivers a compelling, if occasionally uneven, arc of resilience.
- Sensory Experience 75
When evaluating sensory experience, the film adopts an understated visual palette that reinforces narrative realism. Sound design remains unobtrusive, allowing ambient domestic and construction noises to heighten immersion. The score, sparingly employed, supports emotional beats without overwhelming them. Overall, the sensory elements form a cohesive backdrop that subtly enhances the film’s grounded tone and atmosphere.
- Rewatch Factor 70
As for rewatch factor, Herself offers lasting emotional resonance that may reward multiple viewings. The grounded performances and understated narrative layers invite reflection on themes of resilience and community. However, the film’s tranquil pacing and intimate scope may limit appeal for those seeking more dynamic rewatch stimuli. On balance, it possesses moderate replay value for contemplative viewers.
-
IMDb 7.0 /10
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 94% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 83%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 70 Metascore
User score 7.2
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 67% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.5 /5
3 ratings
See on Letterboxd -
Movie Insider 4.3 /5
See on Movie Insider
Herself Box Office
Herself grossed $779,092 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$779.1K
- International
- $779.1K
Herself Awards & Nominations
Herself won 1 award from 5 nominations, including Best Script at the IFTA Awards 2021. Its biggest night was the IFTA Awards 2021, with 1 win from 4 nominations.
1 win5 nominations2 ceremonies
-
IFTA Awards 2021 1 win · 4 nominations- Won Best Script
- Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role
- Nominated Best Actress in a Lead Role – Clare Dunne
- Nominated Best Actress in a Supporting Role
-
Artios Awards 2021 1 nomination- Nominated Low Budget – Comedy or Drama
Herself Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Herself.
Cars in Herself
14 cars on screen, including the 2004 Hyundai Accent and the Hitachi EX 355.
-
2004 Hyundai Accent Important role -
Hitachi EX 355 Minor role -
Hitachi ZX Minor role -
2012 Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse W204 Minor role
Herself Also Known As
12 alternative titles, including “Volver a empezar (Herself)” and “La vita che verrà - Herself”.
- Also known as
-
- Volver a empezar (Herself)
- La vita che verrà - Herself
- Sama nainen
- Volver a empezar
- Сама по себе
- 허셀프
- Сама
- 她自己
- בעצמה
- O Lugar da Esperança
- サンドラの小さな家
- Tornar a començar
Seen Herself?
Movies Like Herself
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Helen, Clean and Rosie.
Herself FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and awards of Herself, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Herself?
Herself runs 1 hour 37 minutes (97 minutes).
When was Herself released?
Herself was released on December 30, 2020.
Who directed Herself?
Herself was directed by Phyllida Lloyd.
More films by Phyllida Lloyd Who is in the cast of Herself?
Herself stars Clare Dunne as Sandra, Harriet Walter as Peggy and Molly McCann as Molly, among 16 credited actors.
Where can I watch Herself?
In the US, Herself is streaming on Amazon MX Player and Amazon Prime Video (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Herself make at the box office?
Herself grossed $779,092 worldwide.
How is Herself rated?
Herself has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, 70 on Metacritic and 67% on TMDB.
What awards did Herself win?
Herself won 1 award from 5 nominations, including Best Script at the IFTA Awards 2021.
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