Review of The Father (2020) by Bertobellamy — 04 Apr 2021

What Florian Zeller has achieved in his film debut is astounding. Through a fragmented narrative, the director puts us in the protagonist's shoes — a man who has dementia and refusing to accept the help provided by his daughter.

I couldn't help to feel lost and confused as I was watching this, but that's exactly to the point: to get an approximation of what this disease is like. The screenplay succeeds in every way by doing this.

Anthony Hopkins, of course, gives the performance of a lifetime. It sure was hard for someone like him to assimilate a situation as his character faces, but the result is just great. Sometimes it feels like you're watching a little kid afraid of getting scolded, and others, he's just like a grumpy and mean older man. Again, a performance with so much nuance.

Shout out to the production design department for the meticulous effort of building the apartment set. The place is another character in this story, and the way it resonates with Anthony is significant. All in all, a very original film that deserves all its praise.