...but the actress playing the daughter just doesn't come across as credible.
It doesn't work for me when I see an actress of about 25 years playing the role of a 12-year-old... Other commentators have suggested that this is one of the messages of this film, that children may sometimes seem more adult-like than adults, but with the casting as it is in this film, it just doesn't work for me.
you might want to check other comments to find out what this film is actually about, because i couldn't bear watching it to the end.
i agree that the premise for this film is beautiful though - I wish another director would try to pick up this story again.