What Maisie Knew

Abstract

This review of What Maisie Knew (2012), directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, explores the film's adaptation of Henry James’s 1897 novel. The movie relocates the narrative from Victorian London to contemporary New York City, a shift that effectively mirrors the original text’s exploration of class dynamics and child psychology. Central to both versions is Maisie’s acute perception, as she navigates her parents' bitter custody battle and their attempts to manipulate her affections. Screenwriters Nancy Doyne and Carroll Cartwright adeptly translate James's themes of privilege and emotional neglect into a modern context, where the trappings of wealth do not shield Maisie from familial dysfunction. The film’s success lies in its nuanced portrayal of child awareness and the complexities of adult relationships, particularly through Onata Aprile’s compelling performance as Maisie. By situating the story within New York's cosmopolitan milieu, the adaptation underscores the disjunction between material abundance and emotional poverty, offering a poignant critique of contemporary family structures.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)