Olivia Colman and John Lithgow Shine in Jimpa, a Deeply Personal Family Drama Exploring Love, Identity and Generational Conflict
Olivia Colman and John Lithgow bring emotional depth to Jimpa, Sophie Hyde’s semi-autobiographical family drama about identity, acceptance and the complicated relationships between parents and children. Although the film has drawn criticism for its sentimental approach and uneven storytelling, its two leading stars deliver committed performances that give the story its strongest moments.
Set largely in Amsterdam, the 2025 film explores how three generations of one family confront different understandings of freedom, sexuality and belonging.
A Family Reunion That Exposes Old Differences
Colman plays Hannah, a filmmaker from Adelaide who travels to Amsterdam with her husband and their non-binary teenager, Frances, portrayed by Aud Mason-Hyde, the director’s own child.
The family visits Hannah’s father, Jim, affectionately known as Jimpa, played by John Lithgow.
Jimpa is a charismatic former academic and activist who came out as gay in the early 1970s, leaving his wife and daughters behind to build a new life in Amsterdam.
Over the years, he became involved in political and social campaigns, including housing rights and HIV activism.
For Frances, Jimpa represents something inspiring: an older queer family member who challenged social expectations long before today’s conversations about identity became widespread.
But their reunion reveals that admiration does not always lead to understanding.
John Lithgow’s Character Challenges His Grandchild’s Views
Although Jimpa initially appears warm, progressive and endlessly enthusiastic about life, he also holds strong opinions shaped by his experiences.
His conversations with Frances expose unexpected disagreements between generations.
Having fought for gay rights during a very different political era, Jimpa questions contemporary identity labels, including queer and bisexual, which he considers less meaningful than the language his generation used.
Frances, meanwhile, belongs to a younger generation with a broader understanding of gender and sexuality.
Their disagreement becomes one of the film’s most engaging moments, revealing how people who share similar values can still struggle to understand each other.
It also complicates Frances’s idealised image of their grandfather.
Olivia Colman Brings Quiet Complexity to Hannah
While Jimpa and Frances confront their differences, Hannah occupies a complicated position between them.
She admires her father’s independence and activism but also carries the personal consequences of his decision to leave the family.
As a filmmaker, Hannah hopes to approach difficult subjects through kindness and understanding rather than confrontation.
Yet the reunion challenges that outlook, forcing her to recognise the tensions that cannot simply be resolved through compassion.
Colman’s restrained performance captures Hannah’s conflicting emotions, particularly the mixture of affection and frustration that defines her relationship with Jimpa.
Lithgow, meanwhile, gives the grandfather warmth, conviction and a stubbornness that prevents him from becoming a straightforward symbol of acceptance.
A Personal Drama That Divided Critics
Despite the strength of its performances, Jimpa has not convinced every critic.
In his review for The Guardian, Peter Bradshaw described the film as overly indulgent, arguing that its emphasis on sensitivity and emotional honesty sometimes comes at the expense of dramatic energy.
He also suggested that the film lacks the vitality of Hyde’s earlier comedy Animals.
However, Bradshaw acknowledged the dedication of Colman and Lithgow, identifying their performances as significant strengths.
He found the disagreements between Jimpa and Frances particularly interesting because they introduce genuine conflict into a story otherwise determined to emphasise understanding.
The teenager’s coming-of-age storyline also provides some of the film’s more effective material.
Is Jimpa Worth Watching?
Jimpa is less concerned with dramatic plot twists than with the complicated emotional history shared by family members.
Its central tensions emerge from the contrast between personal freedom and family responsibility, as well as the differences between generations of queer experience.
The film’s semi-autobiographical roots give these themes an intimate quality, while Colman and Lithgow bring credibility to characters whose affection does not erase their disagreements.
Although its measured pacing and sentimental approach may not appeal to everyone, the performances offer a reason to explore the story.
Ultimately, Jimpa is a family drama about people who love one another but cannot always agree on what love, acceptance or freedom should look like. Colman and Lithgow provide its emotional foundation, even when the film’s ambitious themes prove more compelling than its storytelling.