The Father Review
I can’t say that I’ve been all to eager to see this year’s slate of Oscar contenders. Depressing, dry, and unreliable are just a few of the words I’d use to describe my first impressions. Not to mention that it seems like most studios are holding back their most quality films for when the pandemic subsides. Nothing from 2020 has really resonated with me and I can’t help but wonder if that isn’t just a coincidence. The Father seemed to be a prime example of this but as a AMC A-Lister with nothing to do, I decided to give it a shot.
I don’t mean to sound so negative here. I had hopes of being surprised. Perhaps I would understand its critical acclaim and come out of the theatre genuinely moved by what I saw on-screen.
The great Anthony Hopkins is front and center in this one, playing Anthony, a man who, in his old age, begins to suffer from dementia. That’s pretty much the basic premise of the film. Olivia Colman gives a notable performance as his daughter Anne. Hopkins and Coleman deliver exactly what you’d expect. Strong and memorable acting performances from both.
The Father, directed by Florian Zeller, is based on his 2012 play Le Peré. Knowing that bit of information, you can expect there isn’t too much variation here in terms of setting. The story plays out in only a handful of rooms and the plot is very dialogue heavy. Zeller certainly takes you on an emotional journey and the strength of Hopkins and Coleman only enhance it even more.
Technically, the film doesn’t have many faults. I knew exactly what Zeller was going for and he achieves exactly what he sets out to do. It simply wasn’t my cup of tea. Zeller uses his 90 minute story as a tool to help audiences experience the same pain, confusion, and turmoil that someone experiencing memory loss suffers. That means you can expect a slew of incoherent and perplexing scenes and elements that leave you with more questions than you had before. I kept yearning for some clues or answers that never came. I thought eventually I’d be able to put the pieces together but The Father remained an unsolved puzzle.
The film’s conclusion certainly packs and emotional and gut-wrenching blow. Unfortunately, I found that by that point, I was too frustrated to care. Again, I think that sense of frustration is what Zeller was trying to achieve. It makes you extremely sympathetic to those who suffer from memory loss but it doesn’t belong in a movie. You need somewhat of a coherent through line to guide you along. I just left the theatre with way too many questions and although that may be the point, the gimmick didn’t work.
