Dementia is a terrible thing to live with, both for those suffering from it and those who love them. Most films I've seen which address it take the point of view of those observing the patient. Zeller sets up his story of a man living with dementia from the point of view of that man himself. The film puts us in his shoes. We experience the people around him acting differently in each scene, appearing differently, telling him different versions of events. It is uncomfortably jarring, disorienting, and truly terrifying, and perhaps the closet we get as an audience to what it feels like for that person.
Zeller's approach is delicate and gentle. He just lets the inconsistencies, the confusion, wash over us. It isn't harshly dramatic, no thunderous score to scare us, or "gotcha" moments to drive the point home. It is just the lack of clarity and reason which gets under our skin and so effectively so.
Hopkins and Coleman are both wonderful, each playing their role subtly without the need for scenery chewing or big dramatic moments. Instead they, like the film, just emote and relate to each other... and not relate to each other. Both handle the difficult perspectives quite masterfully making it all come together.
The Father is striking for it for how honest it feels and just how much it brings us into a world where little makes sense and nothing remains constant.
The Father
Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Coleman, Rufus Sewel, Imogen Poots, Olivia Williams, Mark Gatiss
Director: Florian Zeller
Writers: Christopher Hampton, Florian Zeller
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