Sundance review: 'Josephine' tackles some dark territory — a child witnessing a brutal event — with intelligence and sensitivity

A couple tries, and spectacularly fails, at protecting their 8-year-old girl from the horrors of the real world in “Josephine,” writer-director Beth de Araújo’s gripping drama seen largely from that girls viewpoint.

Josephine — played by Mason Reeves, in a heartbreaking debut — and her dad, Damian (Channing Tatum), are going to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park early one Sunday morning to practice her soccer moves and do some jogging. When they get separated on a trail, Josephine sees something terrible: A man (Philip Ettinger) beating and raping a woman (Syra McCarthy).

Josephine has no understanding of what she’s seen, and no way to process it. Damian tries to defer and deflect, telling his wife, Claire (Gemma Chan), that Jo’s too young to be affected by this. Claire clearly knows better, and insists Jo see a child psychologist to help her make sense of what she witnessed. Jo objects, dangerously so, and gets Dad on her side — the first of many arguments Damian and Claire have about how to help their daughter.

Meanwhile, Jo starts imagining the rapist in her room, walking down the street, and anywhere else she is. She also begins to react harshly, even violently, to any male of the species, from the bully at her school to her own dad.

There’s no scene in “Josephine” where young Reeves doesn’t appear, and often the camera is pointing out from her point of view. This is particularly effective in the late innings, when the little girl is faced with the decision of whether to testify in court against the rapist. 

Both Tatum and Chan are outstanding here, exposing the cracks in what had seemed to be a happy family — as both parents find their own past traumas hindering them from helping their daughter through this current one. “Josephine” is a dark journey through some difficult subject material, but de Araújo handles it with intelligence and sensitivity, treating Jo’s emotional state as valid as that of any of the adults.

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‘Josephine’

★★★1/2

Screening in the U.S. Dramatic competition of the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. Not rated, but probably R for a violent sexual assault, other violence, and language. strong sexuality, Running time: 120 minutes.

The film will screen again: Monday, Jan. 26, 1 p.m., Rose Wagner Center for the Performing Arts, Salt Lake City; Thursday, Jan. 29, 4 p.m., Redstone Cinemas 1, Park City; Sunday, Feb. 1, 4:30 p.m., The Yarrow, Park City. Also screening on Sundance’s web portal, Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 29 to Feb. 1.