There is no shortage of films that tackle the idea of dementia and aging. However, the upcoming film “The Father” takes the well-worn, heartbreaking premise of a man succumbing to the effects of advanced age and puts the viewer directly in the shoes of the victim and not his caring family.
As seen in the trailer, Olivia Colman stars as a caring daughter that is trying to convince her older father, played by Anthony Hopkins, to move out of his home and into a situation that best suits his needs. Seems fairly typical for this sort of story right? Well, the film eventually takes a turn and we see that Hopkins’ character is beginning to question his own perception of reality when his daughter doesn’t resemble the woman he knows, with the film using a completely different actress to further add to the confusion. From there, the father must grapple with the realization that his own perception of reality is betraying him and maybe now is the time for a life transition.
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In addition to Colman and Hopkins, the cast includes Mark Gatiss, Rufus Sewell, Imogen Poots, and Olivia Williams. “The Father” is the directorial debut of Florian Zeller, an accomplished playwright and novelist. He co-wrote the film alongside Christopher Hampton.
“The Father” is set to arrive in theaters on December 18. You can watch the full trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
Anthony is 80, mischievous, living defiantly alone and rejecting the carers that his daughter, Anne, encouragingly introduces. Yet help is also becoming a necessity for Anne; she can’t make daily visits anymore and Anthony’s grip on reality is unravelling. As we experience the ebb and flow of his memory, how much of his own identity and past can Anthony cling to? How does Anne cope as she grieves the loss of her father, while he still lives and breathes before her? THE FATHER warmly embraces real life, through loving reflection upon the vibrant human condition; heart-breaking and uncompromisingly poignant – a movie that nestles in the truth of our own lives.
