Daddio (2023)
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A young woman returning home from a trip finds herself in a deep, honest conversation with her taxi driver.
The story
Upon arriving at JFK International Airport, thirty-something Girlie hails a taxi to her Manhattan apartment. Her middle-aged driver, Clark, initiates a conversation that quickly evolves into a multifaceted dialogue. As they navigate the city, Clark shares his views on globalization and the changing value of technology, while Girlie opens up about her roots in Oklahoma, her career as a programmer, and her life in New York. The interaction becomes increasingly personal as they discuss their pasts, personal relationships, and life philosophies during the journey.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Girlie, a thirty-something programmer, takes a cab from JFK to Manhattan. Her driver, Clark, begins a monologue on globalization and the obsolescence of human drivers. He correctly identifies Girlie as a New Yorker by her demeanor. Girlie shares details about her Oklahoma roots and her current life. When a man she is seeing sends her a 'dick pic,' she expresses her disgust. Clark deduces she is involved with a married man and warns her about the nature of such affairs, correctly guessing they have a 'daddy-daughter dynamic.' They share personal histories: Clark discusses his failed marriage and his life in Hell's Kitchen and Queens, while Girlie recounts a visit to her sister in Oklahoma. She reveals a traumatic experience involving a miscarriage during that trip and a subsequent 'rain dance.' The journey concludes with a deep emotional connection as Girlie tips Clark $500 before they part ways.
- First release year
- 2023
- Runtime (minutes)
- 101
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Christy Hall
- Writers
- Christy Hall · writer
- Cast and characters
- Dakota Johnson · Girlie; Sean Penn · Clark
- Genres
- drama; independent
- Themes
- human connection; globalization; relationships; class dynamics
- Tone and mood
- honest; multifaceted; sweet; satisfying
- Premise and plot tags
- two-hander; conversation-driven; taxi ride
- Source material / true-story basis
- stage play
- Content notes
- sexual innuendo
- Reception
- The film received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising the performances and the conversation-sparking nature of the script.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 62 · scale: 100 · review count: 25
- Production trivia
- The film was originally conceived as a stage play in New York City.; The script was included on the 2017 'Black List' of the most-liked unproduced scripts in Hollywood.; All scenes taking place within the cab were shot on a sound stage using on-set virtual production.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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