What Masie Knew is an unusual movie, told almost exclusively from the perspective of a small child. In the early part of the movie, we hear arguments in the background, while the child carries on as normal. Masie seems oblivious to what is going on around her, and shows that this has been the norm for some time. These quarrels signify the end of the relationship between her two parents, played by Julianne Moore and Steve Coogan. Susanna (Moore) is a rock star and Beale (Coogan) an art dealer and they have grown apart. They battle through the courts for the right to keep Masie, but when the dust settles, they are more interested in their own complex lives than that of the child.

Masie is played by Onata Aprile, and the whole piece is centred on her, She carries it with ease, but it is an interesting part, as she mostly plays with crayons or interacts with whatever parent/ nanny that is looking after her in a natural way. It is a nicely understated role, that doesn’t demand a massive performance, but details the damage that an upbringing without a structured home life can bring to a child. Her parents seem to dote on her, with displays of love and affection while they are together, but neither of their lives are normal enough to create a simple world to allow a child to grow.

Neither of the parents are monsters, although there are some seriously negligent displays along the way, especially from the Moore, who juggles the demands of touring with Motherhood without much success. She is passed from one parent/ guardian to the other and is often left in strange situations during these transitions. The introduction of a step mother and father changes the dynamic and offers Masie a chance of a normal childhood in an unexpected way. It is the type of film that will create a healthy discussion over coffee after the film ends and will leave you with more questions than answers.