Olivia Colman & John Lithgow’s Queer, Nude-Filled Father-Daughter Drama in Jimpa

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Olivia Colman has spoken candidly about the emotional impact of her new film Jimpa, a drama that explores intergenerational queer identity and the complexities of family secrets. In an interview with The Guardian, Colman revealed how the film—starring her alongside John Lithgow—forced her to confront her own relationship with her father, who she says would have been “devastated” by its raw portrayal of a gay septuagenarian’s life.

The film, which premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival and received a limited U.S. Release in February 2026, follows Hannah (Colman), a woman who travels from Adelaide to Amsterdam to visit her father, Jim (Lithgow), affectionately known as “Jimpa.” The journey becomes a catalyst for reckoning with family history after Hannah’s 16-year-old trans child, Frances, announces their desire to move to the Netherlands to finish their education. While Hannah and her husband respond with measured thoughtfulness, the arrival in Amsterdam exposes decades of suppressed truth about Jim’s queer identity and the unconventional life he built after leaving his family four decades earlier.

Lithgow’s performance as Jimpa—including scenes where the character is often nude—has been described as “bombshell-laden,” according to Colman. The film’s unflinching portrayal of Jim’s post-coming-out lifestyle, including his relationships and personal freedoms, contrasts sharply with the conservative Australia of the late 20th century, where such openness was rare. Colman’s own father, she admitted, would have been deeply affected by the story, suggesting the film’s themes resonate far beyond its fictional narrative.

Why Jimpa Matters

Jimpa is the latest in a wave of films centering queer family dynamics, following titles like Pride and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Directed by Sophie Hyde and co-written with Matthew Cormack, the film draws from Hyde’s own family history after her father came out as gay while married with young children. The project marks a bold departure for Colman, whose previous roles have largely avoided such intimate explorations of generational conflict and LGBTQ+ identity.

Lithgow, now 80, brings his signature theatricality to the role, embracing both the character’s vulnerability and his unapologetic embrace of a life lived on his own terms. The film’s release in early 2026 coincides with growing cultural conversations about intergenerational trauma, queer visibility, and the evolving definitions of family. Colman’s reflections on the film’s emotional weight—particularly her father’s hypothetical reaction—highlight its potential to spark discussions about secrecy, acceptance, and the legacies of silence.

A Film About Secrets and Acceptance

The plot unfolds against the backdrop of Amsterdam, a city known for its progressive attitudes toward queer communities. Frances’ decision to stay with Jimpa for a year forces Hannah to confront her own complicity in her father’s isolation, as well as the ways her own parenting choices may have mirrored her parents’ avoidance of difficult truths. The film’s title, a playful compound of “Jim” and “grandpa,” underscores the generational shift at its core: a grandfather who rejected societal norms to live authentically, and a grandchild who now seeks to do the same.

Colman’s interview underscores the film’s personal stakes. While she acknowledges the fictional nature of the story, her admission that her real father would have been moved by it suggests a deeper resonance. Jimpa is not just a drama about queer identity; it is also a meditation on the cost of secrecy and the courage required to live openly, regardless of age or circumstance.

What Comes Next

With its limited theatrical run concluding, Jimpa is expected to find a broader audience through streaming platforms, likely later in 2026. Colman, who has become one of the most acclaimed actresses of her generation, has signaled that the film’s themes will continue to influence her work. Meanwhile, Lithgow’s performance has already been cited as a standout in his career, with critics praising its balance of humor, pathos, and unvarnished honesty.

The film’s reception may also reflect broader industry trends toward stories that challenge traditional narratives of family and identity. As audiences increasingly demand representation that reflects diverse lived experiences, Jimpa stands as a testament to the power of cinema to explore the complexities of love, acceptance, and the stories we inherit—or choose to rewrite.