Rent The Father (2020)

Empathetic portrayal of dementia - The Father review by PD

As someone who lives with someone with dementia (my father in fact), Florian Zeller's piece is undoubtedly both an unsettlingly accurate simulation of what it’s like to live with and love someone with dementia, and a strikingly believable conception of what it’s like to live AS someone with dementia - the film envisioning senility as a house of mirrors in which everyone loses sight of themselves and reality itself becomes destabilized. There are so many overtones with my own experience - the obsession with a watch and other compulsive behaviour, the disorientation in an unfamiliar room, the aggression and paranoia.

Anthony Hopkins is predictably superb in the title role, deftly conveying that, for better or worse he still has the vim and vigour of a much younger man, but his mind is a leaky ship in search of land - although it's perhaps a pity that, as with many films of this ilk, we are invited to feel it's more tragic because of his past intellectual accomplishments - it isn't: everyone of course, regardless of their past, deserves our compassion. And his performance is neatly complemented by Olivia Williams, whose ongoing realisation that she cannot give her father what he needs is equally as heart-rending. And one of film’s best scenes involves an introductory meeting between the father and his bright new aide (a brilliant Imogen Poots, negotiating an entire Pinter play worth of resolve, doubt, and betrayal in just a few short minutes). Anthony is at once both more aware than we think, and less aware than he knows. That tension erupts into a rare burst of melodrama — though Hopkins keeps the ham in check — but it leaves the entire flat unsettled in a way that makes it hard to know what it is you should be feeling.

There's quite a few weaknesses - it's always difficult transferring a stage play to screen, and some of the 'tricks' used here are very clunky indeed in film close-up, whilst occasionally, despite Hopkins' superb performance, the words are simply not up to the terrifying reality on screen - towards the end, Hopkins evokes King Lear when he compares himself to a tree losing its branches, and though he just about gets away with it, Shakespearean poetry this is not - for sheer power, 'Elizabeth is Missing' and 'Eternal Beauty' are for me better films dealing with mental issues. Nevertheless for all that, a brave, empathetic piece.

Underwhelming - The Father review by Johannes

Beneath the shifting surfaces of The Father — many slight tricks are hidden up Florian Zeller's sleeves — there is little to hide the simplicity of its skeleton. Anthony Hopkins plays a man in decline, losing control of his environment day by day, and inevitably his memory. Hopkins' performance more than outshines his fellow cast, whose peripheral roles never properly amount to anything, and bow, reverentially, to his masterclass. The film is wrapped around his little finger; it is the Oscar vehicle any actor might dream of seizing. The Father eventually dissolves into poorly scripted goop, where themes of "losing his leaves" and missing watches are underlined, and underlined again.

Fairly harrowing plotline, but a compelling watch and fantastic acting - The Father review by giantrolo

You couldn't say this film was awesome, as it dealt with the hugely complex and on many occasions upsetting subject of a parent descending into extreme forgetfulness to the point of pathology - but it was brilliantly acted by a stellar cast and was a compelling watch. There were many times that the film was super confusing (many a time we were asking ourselves, who is this person acting the part of that other person who just appeared 5 minutes ago?), but that just added to the sense of the film's subject, and altogether it was a hugely moving film. Highly recommended!

Powerful but painful drama about Dementia - The Father review by GH

"The Father" is a moving, illuminating and powerful drama about the effects of aging and decline. Brilliantly portrayed by all the cast, the story describes the range of emotions experienced by a parent suffering from the disabling effects of dementia and by those near and dear to him. Fear, bewilderment, confusion, anger and sadness are in evidence and the drama exposes the confliction in carers and the relatives over how to best serve the interests of all concerned. A gripping film which will cause discomfort and perhaps uncertainty in viewing the events as they unfold.

A Total BUMMER! - The Father review by Mc

Horrible experience watching this. Left me feeling suicidal. Do not watch if over sixty. The acting is superb but the story is so so heart breaking. Not a good advertisement in any way for ageing!

Superbly acted and poignant - The Father review by CD

I was in two minds as to whether watch this film as the subject matter sounded grim.  I am glad I did because the actors are superb and the scariness and disorientation of dementia is really brought out both by Anthony Hopkins’ character and the family and helpers around him.  The tensions created by a person suffering from dementia are well shown as are the battle between being compassionate to the sufferer, acting is their best interests and carrying on with one’s own life.  The final scene is really transformative and very moving.  Hats off to the director, actors and everyone involved with this great film.

An emotional & at times extremely difficult to watch film, with a superb Hopkins - The Father review by TB

Having a mother who has Alzheimer's disease certainly adds a much more personal dimension to this viewing experience. This is the film, adapted from the massively successful play, which looks at the everyday life and challenges of Anthony, an extremely gregarious and friendly man who lives alone in a beautiful flat in London. However, Anthony's dementia has started to cause major issues and worries for his immediate family, particularly his daughter Anne. Anthony becomes more and more difficult to support, as in line with many suffers of Alzheimer's, he absolutely refuses help and becomes very angry & frustrated when this is mentioned to him. He also accuses his carer of stealing from him and mistakes various members of his family for complete strangers.

The thing that the film does scarily well is to put you front and centre in Anthony’s life and the hell that comes from that. It is like watching a slow-motion car crash, but with someone who actively is wanting everything to fall down around him due to his obstinacy.

Hopkins’s performance is absolutely extraordinary and his richly deserved his second Oscar win. Olivia Colman is also heart-breaking good as the desperate daughter who cannot, despite her best efforts, succeed in changing her father’s behaviour in the slightest, enabling him to be able to help himself. The whole film is also very well directed by Florian Zeller, who wrote the script too.

The only reason this didn’t get 4 stars was that for me, despite all the fleshing out of the characters and the headspace that Anthony is in, I did at times feel a bit bored and had to come back to the film again after a break, as I found myself losing focus. But this is a small price for drama this good.