30
New York Magazine (Vulture) by
This is a wan, shapeless, and amazingly conventional piece of work .
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What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
80
While the acting ensemble is crucial, it's not the only asset here.
100
Christian Science Monitor by David Sterritt
Soldier's Daughter thrives less on Hollywood-style drama than on nuances of personality, details of everyday life, and emotions so commonplace that conventional movies rarely take the time to acknowledge them, much less explore them with loving care.
50
The New York Times by Elvis Mitchell
In fact even the film's most dramatic moments are presented with decorousness bordering on detachment.
88
ReelViews by James Berardinelli
Not only was I touched by the characters and engrossed by their story during the 120 minutes they were on screen, but I could have easily spent another hour or two with them.
80
Los Angeles Times by Kenneth Turan
Somehow, against considerable obstacles, it has captured something true about families and friendship, creating a texture of believable emotions on screen.
50
Austin Chronicle by Marjorie Baumgarten
The story's accumulation of scattered impressions is exactly what bedevils the film's overall impact. The story lacks focus, sustained development, and direction.
75
San Francisco Chronicle by Peter Stack
By now, fans of the studied loveliness of Merchant Ivory films savor that they aren't pat, slick or especially action-packed. A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries is a fine example -- themes percolate and evolve into poignancy.
88
Chicago Sun-Times by Roger Ebert
The film's appeal is in the details. This is one of [Merchant-Ivory's] best films.
50
San Francisco Examiner by Walter Addiego
Freed from the demands of adapting an established and complex literary piece, the filmmakers seem to have relaxed - and so can their audience.