HERSELF
An inspiring story of courage and community, made for adults.
Should You Watch It?
HERSELF is a moving, compassionate drama about a battered mother trying to build a safe home for her two young daughters. Clare Dunne gives an excellent performance as Sandra, and the film generates deep sympathy for battered women, especially battered mothers. Its morally uplifting worldview emphasizes courage, justice, and the importance of helping people in need.
The film also depicts domestic violence and its aftermath with strong language. Sandra’s PTSD, her husband’s violence, and the possibility of losing custody make the story emotionally difficult. About 16 obscenities, six strong profanities referencing Jesus Christ, and several other profanities further limit its audience.
Adults who can handle these elements will find a well-acted drama with a compassionate heart. Families with children or young teens should choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESSandra lives in a hotel with her two daughters after her abusive husband goes to jail and she wins custody of the children. Working two part-time jobs, she discovers a way to build a small house of her own.
When a female doctor offers Sandra land and a loan for construction, Sandra secretly begins building with help from friends and a local contractor. Then an injury at the construction site gives her husband an opportunity to challenge her custody of their children.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means HERSELF is an excellent film despite some flaws. Clare Dunne, who also co-wrote the screenplay, delivers an excellent performance as Sandra. The supporting cast members are memorable, and the child actors are cute and endearing.
The film’s strongest moments generate sympathy for battered women and challenge the question of why an abused woman did not leave sooner. The story’s structure is loose, however, and gratuitous “f” words and several strong profanities diminish an otherwise powerful drama.
The Worldview
HERSELF has a compassionate and morally uplifting worldview. It sides with battered women, especially battered mothers and their children, and shows the importance of people helping others in need. A line of dialogue affirms that helping other people can also bring help in return.
The film includes a couple of positive references to God and an early scene about St. Brigid of Ireland, a friend of St. Patrick whose mother was baptized by Patrick. The story also emphasizes justice and ultimately shows that the husband’s wrongdoing has consequences.
The film’s central conviction — that people should help carry one another through suffering — aligns closely with Scripture: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Dominant Worldview and Other Worldview Content/Elements
Strong moral worldview sides with battered women, especially battered mothers and their children, and shows the importance of people helping other people in need, with a couple positive references to God and an early scene mentions the story of St. Brigid of Ireland, a friend of St. Patrick whose mother was baptized by Patrick
Foul Language
About 16 obscenities (mostly “f” words), six strong profanities referencing Jesus Christ in some manner, nine light exclamatory profanities
Violence
Brief strong and light intentional and accidental violence such as a woman’s husband punches her, twists her wrist and causes her to fall in the kitchen (her mouth is bloodied, and she appears to have a small bloody wound on her forehead), several scenes flash back to that moment (the woman clearly has come away from the incident with PTSD, which gives her panic attacks), it’s revealed that the woman’s younger daughter had seen the incident unfold from outside the open kitchen door, the husband seems about to return to his violent ways in a few scenes later in the movie, a child’s arm gets a gash when she gets in the way as her mother is using a hammer’s claw end to remove a nail in a house being built, and a case of arson burns a small building
Sex
No sex scenes or sexual immorality
Nudity
No nudity
Alcohol Use
People drink beer in a couple scenes, and some scenes are set in a relatively empty pub during the day
Smoking and/or Drug Use and Abuse
No smoking or drugs;
Miscellaneous Immorality
Heroine fudges the truth on a government form by marking N/A or Not Applicable, and villain has anger issues and calls his wife an obscene name in second half of movie after trying to act nice (his niceness is really phony), but justice prevails when he goes too far.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Sandra’s story challenges the question, “Why didn’t she leave the man earlier?” How can we respond with compassion to people living under abuse and fear?
Galatians 6:2 · Romans 12:15Sandra receives practical help from people around her. What burdens might God be asking you to help carry?
Galatians 6:2 · James 2:14–17The film presents justice as important when someone uses violence and deception. What does Scripture call us to do for the vulnerable?
Proverbs 31:8–9 · Isaiah 1:17Sandra’s house represents safety and a proper home for her daughters. What makes a home more than a building?
Joshua 24:15 · Psalm 127:1The Final Word
HERSELF is an excellent, moving drama with a compassionate moral vision and a memorable performance from Clare Dunne. Its domestic violence, PTSD, strong profanity, and references to Jesus Christ make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For other family movie options, see.
