The story follows Leda Caruso (Olivia Colman), a middle-aged professor on a solo vacation in Greece. Her peaceful retreat is interrupted by the arrival of a large, boisterous family from Queens. Leda becomes fixated on Nina (Dakota Johnson), a young mother struggling with her daughter. This fixation triggers intense, painful memories of Leda’s own early years as a mother, when she made the radical choice to leave her young daughters for several years to pursue her career and personal freedom. 2. Key Themes: Motherhood and Autonomy

The tension between Leda and Nina serves as a mirror, showing that the struggles of motherhood are not isolated but repeated across generations. 3. Visual and Symbolic Language

Leda’s flashbacks reveal the crushing exhaustion and loss of self she experienced while raising her children.

A central symbol in the film, the doll represents the physical and emotional burdens of caretaking. Leda’s theft of the doll is a manifestation of her unresolved guilt and a subconscious attempt to "fix" or reclaim her lost years.

The film is lauded for its unflinching portrayal of motherhood, moving away from idealized "nurturing" tropes.