Well that was a lot deeper than I expected it to be, but most Jessica Biel movies are. So the question that you are asked is: What do you owe to someone who dies so that you can live? How do you make payments? They seem to say that the answer is: When you feel like you are so deep under water that you just cant breathe, then you need to let go, and trust that the currents will carry you to where you are supposed to be. I guess. This movie is creepy, but not scary.(Take it from someone who's first real memory is like the awakening scene in this movie) There has been a lot of loss, and these characters are trying to fill the emptiness. You will not know who are the bad people in this movie, and it is to the credit of the actors that you will side with the young Emanuel from the start, and everyone will seem suspicious. If you like really long drawn out dramatic movies that never seem to get anywhere fast, but that finally pay out fully, and with extra butter. Then you will Enjoy this movie a lot. If you would rather remove your own eyes than watch a bunch of women sitting around talking(not what this is, just what it represents), then miss this one.

This is a very dark movie...it explores different facets of what goes into a persons mind when its very difficult to let go a person who was near n dear to us. The best part was the climax where the two characters blend together into one similar situation to achieve one goal of letting go of the person who was so loving and in a very unique way proclaiming their death. The script is very strong and amazingly presented by the director. Kudos to the protagonist as well who has put so much soul into this character. ****This movie is not for a person who wants the movie to be fast paced or for someone who do not understand the emotions of death.

We all like a bit of Effy from Skins but this is absolute tripe. Slow, boring and yawn..... sorry fell asleep there.. rubbish.

The bitter and introspective seventeen year-old Emanuel (Kaya Scodelario) is a troubled girl that lost her mother giving birth to her and she feels guilty for her loss. She lives with her father Dennis (Alfred Molina) and her estranged stepmother Janice (Frances O'Connor) in a house in the suburb. Emanuel has not gone to college and works in a drugstore with her colleague Arthur (Jimmi Simpson). She uses to flirt with the teenager Claude (Aneurin Barnard) in the train she uses to go to her job. When her next door neighbor Linda (Jessica Biel) offers Emanuel to be the babysitter of her newborn Chloe, Emanuel accepts the job offer but she does not see the baby that is sleeping. But Emanuel and Linda feel connected to each other and Emanuel visits Linda in her leisure time to help her with Chloe. When Emanuel finally sees Chloe, she realizes that her new friend is living a great illusion but she keeps her secret. When Linda dates Arthur, the touching truth about her is disclosed. "The Truth About Emanuel" is a beautiful movie with a sensitive and touching story of loss and friendship. Emanuel and Linda are troubled women bonded by their losses. The beginning of the story is ambiguous and the viewer is never sure whether what Emanuel is seeing is her insane perception or reality until the moment that her stepmother visits Linda. I believe the water is a metaphor with the amniotic fluid that connects Emanuel and Linda and rebirth, but I did not understand the meaning of fishes. The performances are great and despite the bad reviews, the viewer may like it like I did. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): "A Grande Ilusão" ("The Great Illusion")

'The truth about Emanuel' is an engrossing movie which is punctuated by two great lead performances. Both Jessica and Kara have a real on screen chemistry as their relationship is one of the most powerful you have seen, and their characters of 'Linda' and 'Emmanuel' respectively also have mystery. The film primarily deals with the emotions of loss and grief as well as entering into a world where reality is not how it appears. The film is not well known but this movie is quality all the way, keeping the viewer on the edge as the 'truth' becomes more and more complex. The ending could have been better but in essence this movie is about raw emotions, taking you on a journey into the minds of two troubled women. Loved Jessica and Kara's performances !

At first I thought that this is one sick mental illness movie. Mother "got" the child and no one see that? Come on people... In USA I assume that babysitting is one old and cultural aspect of living. OK. I came to the house but all I get is talkie-walkie ??? Plese, how you can buy this crap? First, introducing with a baby or a child, than keeping that baby or child. OK, mother is in trauma but they still giving fresh milk to the doll. The title should be "Mad Mum Story". Second, Emanuel is living in the past with very bad and dangerous thought that she killed her own mother. Jesus, please don't me make be a father like Emanuel's father - distant and phlegmatic man who open and reopen soul wounds in his daughter.Kaya Scodelario was great in acting but script was totally bad. What is the message here? If you got mental sick woman/mother in neighborhood please ignore all symptoms and act or pretend that the doll is a living child. And you will solved all problems. This problem should be treated by some expert for mental illness not a young girl who works i pharmacy store. I really sympathize with this great pain - when mother loose her child (because my mother went throw all that with my twin brother/ I survive but he died after one month after the birth). Plese, do not play with mother feelings in this way. 5 stars because actors did they job but script is disaster unfortunately. :( If you like to lose oneself in the most beautiful eyes ever (of Kaya Scodelario eyes) - this is your movie and please don't missed it. :)

Where does this movie head at? I think this question wasn't important, as the motivation of the director must have been most important. The film does excel when it comes to technical skills and standards. The whole settings and the filming location were really a good choice, and the story itself could have been more than an overused vessel. But the movie lacks as soon as I think about the main actors. Both Jessica Biel and Kaya Scodelario (what a wonderful name) wouldn't match. Until the end I was waiting for some kind of a surprising effect. Though most actors in the supporting roles were quite convincing, the movie left me with the impression of a void, a huge yawning void. May because it was too late for watching 'The Truth About Emanuel', or the unfinished, rough performance of both main actress' led only to a shallow mood. The truth is, there have been many more movies succeeding in what the director intended with this work. However, if you like Kaya Scodelario eyes', or want to see Jessica Biel failing horribly, I would definitely recommend this movie. But don't expect to see a provocative nor sensitive film, it was more like grotesque.

After reading the critic reviews for this film, I was not expecting much at all. However I decided to give it a watch in my spare time and it was definitely worth it. Kaya (whom I have adored ever since skins) although sticking to the "troubled teen" stereotype she is often cast in, delivered a believable and well rounded performance. The script came together very well, and the story arcs in a way which I did not expect, and the film is then carried through by strong acting performances from both Kaya and Jessica, allowing the viewer to really witness and experience the emotions of these characters and the experiences through which they have suffered. My only criticism would be that occasionally the "Claude" storyline felt a but forced and unnecessary, but a wonderful film none the less. If you enjoy slower burning films that pay off such as 'now is good' or 'the virgin suicides' this film is definitely down your alley.

First about acting. Acting is outstanding in this film! Alfred Molina is one fantastic actor. It is not that I am underestimating other actors, but I like him, I always did. Other actors are outstanding too, no wonder this film picked up few awards. I do not have to mention cinematography, it is outstanding too. It also picked up few awards, it deserved it! As far as the plot goes I was not too impressed, but it is a story of life, and as it told, it makes perfect sense. Two women bonding together, to overcome issues from the past. Hmm. Two mentally ill women bonding together. And the water. What the hell is the water all about? So plot is not as outstanding as acting and cinematography. I would declare this film is for the women.

Movies (unless documentaries, though even those are not entirely "real") are not supposed to be taken straight up, because they are what someone else thought of, so its supposed to be otherworldly. In this case the movie takes it to other places literally. Not always and only at special points in the story. The German title also might indicate this to be a bit different than you'd expect (especially concerning our female lead): Linda's Child. But the Germans always like to explain the movies you're about to watch. The female lead, a young very beautiful actress has more than a couple of flaws and issues. Not a very sociable person (even though she has the charisma to pull that off, the looks as mentioned are there from the get go), but a person that might be able to help others who have issues of their own. Be it from the male or female gender. This isn't perfect by a long shot, the points can be guessed, but they could've been made better. Still the performances (also Jessica Biel) are more than phenomenal. If you like weird thrillers with some extra touch, you are right on the spot with this one