Our movie today features Academy Award winning actors Anthony Hopkins (as Anthony, the
Father) and Olivia Colman (as daughter Anne). A gem from the lost year of theater going, 2020
that went on to win awards for acting and screenplay.
On the most basic level, this is a story of a man’s battle with dementia. But this movie is so
much more, as it is written and told thru the man experiencing his decline with this terrible
affliction.
We first meet Anthony an eighty-year-old former engineer, who is living alone in his London flat
after dismissing the latest caregiver daughter Anne has hired. Anne is at her wits end, trying to
explain to Anthony why he needs help, but Anthony is fixated on his misplaced watch that he is
convinced Angela, the fired caregiver has stolen. Anne finally confesses to Anthony that she is
planning to leave London and join her boyfriend in Paris. “Boyfriend? When did you get a
boyfriend, didn’t you just get divorced?” “No, Dad it’s been a while.” Anthony can’t
understand why she would want to move to Paris as “they don’t even speak English” and then
accuses her of abandoning her. He then spitefully spouts “Where is your sister, where is Lucy? I haven’t seen her in so long, she wouldn’t leave me” and he shutters himself in his bedroom.
The look on Anne’s face, tells you don’t count on Lucy making an appearance, and we know
there is a sad story there.
Next, we see Anthony leaving his bedroom and there is a man reading the newspaper on the
couch. “Who are you, and why are you sitting on my couch?” “Anthony, it’s me Paul, Anne’s
husband and this is my couch” They go back and forth, on who’s apartment and couch it is,
until Anne returns to the apartment. But it’s not the Anne we saw previously, it’s a younger
version of Anne.
We can see Anthony’s anxiety and confusion growing rampant, he felt safe in his flat, but where
are his things? This is my flat, they are lying, and I think he stole my watch. He even asks Paul,
for the sales receipt of the watch, determined to prove Paul is wearing his stolen watch.
Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal of Anthony is so good, translating his paranoia and obsession about
watches, his anger and refusal to believe that he is ill, it is almost too uncomfortable to watch
as someone who lived the long road of dementia personally. This movie is real life to a lot of
families.
At a certain point, we are confused, just as Anthony is, but that makes sense because we are
immersed in Anthony’s journey.
And Olivia Colman as Anne, is trying to keep it together, trying to be a tight upper lip Britisher,
but she and her marriage are falling apart. She doesn’t want to accept that she can’t care for
her father in her home, but she sees the handwriting on the wall. In one scene she daydreams
of strangling her father as he sleeps in his bed. He at times is verbally brutal to her, but there
are times of clarity when he expresses “Anne, thank you for everything” which tears at her
more as she knows what she needs to do to save her own sanity.
Something, the director does, which takes a moment to adjust to, is replaying scenes, first from
Anthony’s perspective, then Anne’s or husband Paul. Then wait, is this really Anne’s flat and
not Anthony’s, when did this happen? Is there really a husband, is she really going to Paris?
And is there really a sister Lucy?
This is a bit scrambled because we are living Anthony’s life, which is a constant state of
flashbacks, forgetfulness and paranoia.
As we discover, Anne did move Anthony out of his flat years ago, and into hers while she was
married to Paul. The marriage did collapse, and Anne did start a relationship with a Frenchman
and is moving to Paris, which brings us to Anthony’s residing in a nursing home.
There is a scene that is so prolific, when Anne leaves Anthony at the facility and walks out thru
the entrance, and there is a large sculpture of half a human head, so like Anthony who is losing
his mind.
The final scene with Anthony crying for his mother comparing himself to a tree, that has lost its
branches and leaves, and being consoled by his nurse is gut wrenching
As mentioned, “The Father” rated B+ is emotionally a difficult movie to watch it can really touch
a nerve for some but is so finely acted and written it is worth the hour and thirty-five minutes
of potential discomfort.
As for a beverage, a glass of fine quality whiskey, something you can linger over and appreciate.
