Film Synopsis: The Father. A man (played by Anthony Hopkins) refuses all assistance from his daughter Anne (played by Olivia Colman) as he ages. As he tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality! What would you do if your father was in this type of condition? How could you cope? What would you do to help him – is there anything humanly possible….anything??? To have a parent in such a state as this one….
https://youtu.be/60wDuQMJl2Q
GRADE: [A+]
Powerful. A masterpiece. The Father. Everything that was said about this movie in the trailer is what this movie is, was, and always will be. This film takes you – literally on the journey of a person (the father) who has the condition of dementia. I literally felt as if Sir Anthony (who plays the father) Hopkins was the ideal and perfect choice to portray the main role for the film. I have not seen him act in a movie since RED 2 back in 2013.
That was the last time that I personally had seen him in any films, I am sure that he has done work since then, though. I am totally at a loss for words and speechless about this movie, The Father. I do not even know where to begin; how to begin; what to say; how to say it; or even where to start. The movie has so many – it’s not even twists and turns.
That is not even the appropriate term to use. It isn’t a roller coaster of emotions either. “The Father” truly should have been based on real life events of a person who suffered with dementia; maybe, then just maybe I cold explain it a little bit better to you so that you can fully grasp how powerful and magnetic this film pulls you into Anthony’s (Hopkins’ name in the movie actually was Anthony) life and what he had to struggle with. THE FATHER SHOULD BE NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE!
Here I go: Anthony was a man who live in his own flat in London and his daughter, Anne was taking care of him and while watching the movie, you will see in almost a split second and in every scene things change (i.e. people, paintings, rooms, food, furniture). This is the journey that the film takes you on. This is the perception that people with dementia have – the film showed us what Anthony was going through in “his eyes” and in “his image.”
People who suffer with this condition do not know what is real and what is there and not there. That is what this film does remarkably! Truthfully, it is hard to watch because this condition is just unbearable, I can only imagine and to have your own child watch their parent slip further and further away from the grips of reality and not even recognize them or anything.
I do not see how anyone could have the strength to see that each and every single day. The film seems to twist and and turn through a chronological fog, and people try to understand and keep track of what is going on, but I will not lie to you, it’s rather difficult because its like actors recycle roles throughout the film to get the message across to the audience about what a person suffering with dementia goes through on a daily basis. It is exhausting to try to differentiate.
That is what people with dementia have to suffer with. The film is that intense! It makes you think! It is very symbolic – especially the ending of the movie where Anthony describes how he feels like the leaves on a tree.
If you get a chance, no matter how you come to find this film – you should have two hours sat aside to watch this and I guarantee you this: you will have a new outlook on not only life, but how lucky and blessed you are to have your life and to know your worth, you YOU are, and who you WANT to be and where YOU are in life. You will find a new appreciation for everything and not take a single second of life for granted ever again. That I promise you!



“A powerful piece of film!” #TonightWithTrav
Perfectly said!