2024 is brimming with projects focused on the crisis faced by women who have become mothers. Films like Night Bitch, starring Amy Adams, and the documentary Witches, which brilliantly connects medieval witch hunts to modern motherhood, approach this theme with remarkable depth. In a world where women are only just beginning to gain rights they have long deserved, the increasing misogyny has become painfully evident to many. This rise, however, is not all that surprising. Since women have shifted from seeing their effort in relationships as an obligation to recognizing it as labor, they now demand an equal share of effort from men. This demand has sparked a significant backlash, especially among younger men, who, unable to experience an inherently patriarchal system like that portrayed in the film, are frustrated. Social media is rife with hateful comments from young men, who have inherited views from their parents.
Motherhood means at least ten years of your life mortgaged. I specifically do not use the word parenting because, despite it being 2025, the majority of men still fail to recognize that raising children is a shared responsibility. This is why, when we look at the steadily declining birth rates, it’s hardly shocking. First and foremost, because motherhood steals your life, and when you have a partner who doesn’t share the responsibility—like in the film—all the burden falls on you. As a result, many women are opting not to have relationships at all to avoid finding themselves trapped in the nightmare depicted in the film.
Let’s briefly discuss the plot… Annette (Daisy Ridley) and Ben’s (Shazad Latif) daughter, Matilda (Hiba Ahmed), land a role in an old English royal film starring the famous actress Alicia (Matilda Lutz). Due to Matilda’s young age, someone must take her to the set, and the responsibility falls to her father, Ben. Meanwhile, Annette is left at home with their baby. Throughout his time on set, Ben begins to engage with Alicia, who consistently appears in the same scenes as his daughter, even pushing the boundaries of professional interaction. As he perceives a warm response from Alicia, he starts imagining a romantic connection between them. The problem, however, is how to explain this to his wife at home.
Directed by Sam Yates, Magpie is one of the best films I’ve seen in 2024, combining themes of motherhood with the harsh realities of external pressures. Like Night Bitch and Witches, it explores the grim realities of motherhood, but it also weaves an intriguing mystery into the story that deepens its impact. The film’s focus on the collective resistance women are raising in response to men shirking responsibility—particularly when it comes to household chores or child-rearing—is compelling. Yet, Annette chooses a different path rather than simply raising the protest flag.
Unlike other examples, Magpie complicates the core issue of shared parental responsibilities by focusing on the male protagonist’s distance from his wife during the early stages of motherhood. Observing his wife, who slowly loses her glow without makeup every day at home, the man—whether it’s due to biology or, as I’d say, a lack of character—begins searching for a younger, more vibrant woman. Unfortunately, this is one of life’s harsh truths. The problem is that the real reason for this loss of glow is the unequal distribution of responsibilities. Instead of both partners losing their shine together, it’s the mother who suffers alone. While one side weakens, the other continues life as usual. This dynamic is clearly visible in the film: throughout, Ben focuses on Alicia more than his own children. He dumps all the responsibilities on Annette, who, under the weight of it, is viewed with disdain by him. Yet, the film clearly emphasizes that Annette was once a career woman with great potential, and even though she dreams of returning to that career, her aspirations are ultimately thwarted by motherhood.
The film draws me in just by focusing on the discrepancy between the labor of men and women in raising children. But the real twist at the film’s conclusion, which I never saw coming, elevates it to a whole new level. The jealousy scene at the film’s beginning transforms into a key detail that completely alters the narrative. Annette, who seems to be spiraling into emotional breakdowns at home, was, in fact, always in control. The film reveals how easily men can become prey to sexting, and we witness the consequences of listening to what between their legs says. I’m not sure if Annette knew from the outset that her plan would succeed, but by bringing a societal truth to light, she ends up feeling proud in the end. Perhaps the most satisfying part of her journey is the glass of wine she holds.
I had never entirely warmed to Daisy Ridley, as the Star Wars franchise, with its mediocrity, didn’t do her any favors. She herself admitted that it negatively impacted her career. Films like Chaos Walking and The Marsh King’s Daughter marked the beginning of her new career path. But 2024 proved just how right she was in choosing this direction. Though her screen time in Magpie is relatively limited, she strengthens the film with her presence. The movie that truly proves her resurgence, however, is Young Woman and the Sea, released in the same year—a powerful comeback that says, “I’m here.”
In conclusion… Magpie is a brilliant film that tells the story of a man trying to turn his wife’s confinement into motherhood to his advantage, only to reveal, through a stunning twist, that the opportunity he thought he had was all a lie. The film’s focus on the imbalance of responsibility in parenting was, for me, more than enough reason to watch. But the twist at the end of the film completely changes everything, leaving not only Ben but also the audience in shock. And, of course, the truth revealed at the end shifts the meaning of everything we’ve watched throughout the film.
Cast & Crew
director: Sam Yates,
writers: Tom Bateman
starring: Daisy Ridley, Shazad Latif, Matilda Lutz, Hiba Ahmed
UK – USA | 2024 | 90 MINUTES |