Anthony Hopkins delivers one of his greatest performances in the emotional new drama “The Father,” releasing this weekend in theaters and March 26 on demand. Olivia Colman also stars.
The film, based on a stage play by Florian Zeller, who also directed and co-wrote the screenplay, centers on Anthony (Hopkins), an 80-year-old charming yet frequently combustible gentleman who interacts with his daughter Anne, her husband, and hired caregivers. Trapped in an aging body, Anthony’s independence seems to be slipping from his grasp. He suspects thievery from visitors and plots contrived against him. It’s a familiar plot echoing the plight that millions of the elderly and their families are faced with. Dementia, it seems, is a daily battle.
What takes an unexpected turn, however, is placing the audience in Anthony’s shoes, intentionally confusing surroundings, people, and information. In one scene, Anne talks of moving but when Anthony repeats it, she denies ever speaking of it. Zeller skillfully takes viewers on his dark journey. What if he’s not just a stubborn, ornery octogenarian, but suffering from something cruel and tangible?
By viewing through Anthony’s lens, the audience feels a sense of compassion that is sometimes lost in the dementia battle. Who wouldn’t be overcome with anxiety and anger when it seems the world is plotting against them? As the world shatters, the thread of hope is the memory of family love, embodied the excellent portrayal of Anne by Coleman. Like the last piece of a puzzle that’s been discarded, she’s his light and anchor.
“The Father” is an ode to the strong bond between family members, even if they exist in murky memories that are disappearing. It will provoke strong emotions from viewers who’ve experienced the pains of mental deterioration and shine a light on the struggle those who suffer experience.
“The Father,” directed by Florian Zeller and starring Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, is rated PG-13 for some strong language, and thematic material.
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