At
this year’s Sundance, Angelica Sakurada sniffed out the buzziest films,
allowing us to focus on our specialties. First, she provided a voluntary
supplemental review of Lee Isaac Chung’s Minari, which went on to win
both the Audience and Jury Awards. She follows up with a brief look at The
Father, which is already considered a potential Oscar contender for Sir
Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, provided below as a courtesy to our readers:
Most people have someone in their
family or extended circles of relations who suffer with Alzheimer or other forms
of dementia, so they understand how difficult it is to understand what happens
inside that person’s mind and why they act the way they do. It is particularly
hard (and many times miserable) to be the family member who is responsible for
the care of the person suffering from such illness. That is a common, relatable
experience that serves as the foundation for Florian Zeller’s The Father, which premiered at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
This is a very intelligent
adaptation of a play from stage to big screen that makes the viewer question if
they really understood the film in the end (and eventually want to watch it
again to confirm). The use of small changes in scenarios and the original time-looping
technique, shows in a unique and creative way the confusion of the affected
mind and the suffering and confusion that result for the afflicted person. It really
puts you in their head.
At the same time, The Father shows how hard is for a family
member to keep their regular routine, while taking care of a loved one with
dementia. The shining performance of Sir Anthony Hopkins could win him another
Oscar and the same is true for Olivia Colman, who is also great as his only
daughter struggling with the hard question of whether to care for her father
herself, even if it means sacrificing her life, or accepting the hospice care
option.
Significantly, this is the first
film for the director Florian Zeller and the last movie from Sony Film Classic.
It is a very emotional film for anyone who can relate to the theme. Highly
recommended with standing ovation, The
Father was a major highlight of this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
