Jimpa is a new film by director Sophie Hyde. The film explores sexual identity and family relationships. Hyde based the story on her own life.

The film follows Hannah, played by Olivia Colman. Hannah is a filmmaker from Adelaide, Australia. She travels to Amsterdam with her husband and non-binary child Frances. Frances is played by Aud Mason-Hyde. Aud is director Sophie Hyde's real child. This makes the film deeply personal.

In Amsterdam, the family visits Hannah's father Jim. John Lithgow plays Jim. Everyone calls him affectionately Jimpa. Jim is a charismatic and lively person. Lithgow brings much energy and warmth to the role.

The two lead actors deliver strong performances. Colman and Lithgow are fully committed to their roles. Their acting is the film's highlight. Without them, the film would be much weaker.

Yet the film has weaknesses too. Hyde's story sometimes feels self-satisfied. The film praises itself too much for its honesty. That doesn't always feel genuine. The spark from Hyde's earlier film Animals from 2019 is missing here.

One example of the overblown style is the teenage protagonist of the film. She takes photos with an old disposable film camera. Almost nobody does that in everyday life anymore. This detail feels forced and artificial.

The film wants to tell a sensitive story about a queer family. That's important and valuable subject matter. LGBTQ+ themes like non-binary identity are clearly present. But the execution could have been deeper and sharper.

Jimpa is a well-intentioned film. For LGBTQ+ viewers, it offers relatable stories about identity and family. The representation of a non-binary character on screen is valuable. But the film doesn't reach its full potential.

In short, Jimpa is worth watching for Colman and Lithgow. Their performances alone make it worthwhile. Don't expect a masterpiece though.