Albatross
A bookish teenager’s friendship with an aspiring novelist becomes a painful initiation into adult desire when the newcomer begins an affair with her father.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- awkward
- wistful
- quiet weekend viewing
- indie film night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the performances, especially Jessica Brown Findlay's, appealing and sensitive, but considered the plotting sentimental, familiar, and increasingly unconvincing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Beth's friendship with Emilia draws her into the consequences of her father's affair and forces premature confrontation with adult relationships.
Emilia's aspiration to become a novelist and Beth's bookish personality shape their bond and the film's understanding of aspiration.
The film frames a marriage crisis and family rupture through amiable, sometimes uncomfortable comic-drama beats rather than sustained melodrama.
Emilia's arrival in town initiates Beth's friendship with her and precipitates the affair that threatens Beth's family.
Films like Albatross, and why
The Diary of a Teenage Girl
coming of age drama focused on adolescent friendship, sexual awakening, and destabilized family relationships
An Education
witty yet uncomfortable adolescent drama involving literature, adult sexuality, and emotionally complicated mentorship
The Kids Are All Right
ensemble relationship drama balancing comic touches with infidelity, family fracture, and painful emotional consequences
Movie Details
- Director
- Niall MacCormick
- Release Date
- 2011-10-14
- Runtime
- 90 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (121)
Cast
- Jessica Brown Findlay
- Harry Treadaway
- Josef Altin
- Felicity Jones
- Julia Ormond
- Justin Edwards
- Sebastian Koch
- Peter Vaughan
- Hazel Douglas
- Thomas Brodie-Sangster
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, Sundance Now
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Albatross about?
- A bookish teenager’s friendship with an aspiring novelist becomes a painful initiation into adult desire when the newcomer begins an affair with her father.
- What is Albatross like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Albatross as measured, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Albatross violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Albatross.
- What did critics think of Albatross?
- Critics broadly found the performances, especially Jessica Brown Findlay's, appealing and sensitive, but considered the plotting sentimental, familiar, and increasingly unconvincing.
- Which films are like Albatross?
- Films with a similar feel include The Diary of a Teenage Girl, An Education, and The Kids Are All Right.
- How long is Albatross?
- Albatross runs 90 minutes.
- Where can I watch Albatross?
- In United States, Albatross streams on Philo, AMC+ Amazon Channel, AMC+ Roku Premium Channel, Sundance Now.
