AFI FEST 2020 | Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman Give Exceptional Performances As "The Father" Delivers An Emotionally Stirring Story

October 21, 2020 Thomas Stoneham-Judge

12/12 ForReel Score | 5/5 Stars

Repeating moments. Large lapses in time. Inconsistent information. Characters appearing then changing or vanishing. You would think I was describing a new sci-fi thriller, but sadly, this is the reality of Anthony (Anthony Hopkins - The Two Popes), the elderly main character in The Father who suffers from dementia. The film conveys a disturbing and deeply heartrending portrayal of this degenerative condition, and with outstanding performances from Sir Anthony and Olivia Colman, The Father is a must see film in 2020.

The Father mostly takes place within Anthony’s apartment as his daughter, Anne (Olivia Colman - The Favourite), tries to find a suitable caretaker for him now that she’s decided to move to France. He, however, is stubborn about the transition, insisting he doesn’t need help and doing everything he can to drive away caretaking prospects, one of which is Laura (Imogen Poots - Castle In The Ground, The Art of Self-Defense) who he eventually comes to like. But the dementia is clouding Anthony’s perception of reality, and eventually, the jumbled details become less inconsequential and more debilitating to Anthony’s preferred lifestyle and living arrangement.

The premise of The Father could’ve very well played out like a psychological thriller with the way the narrative splices events and details together. But being more of what I would describe as a “psychological drama”, the story is devastating to experience as reality for Anthony gets more and more distorted. Because the film takes place from Anthony’s impared perspective, the audience is right alongside him for an in-his-shoes perspective of exactly how confusing the misinterpretation of time and information can be.

A story this hard-hitting demands distinguished performances, and Sir Anthony and Olivia absolutely deliver on this front. Anthony Hopkins is at the top of his game with this role, especially as The Father closes in on the finale with sequences that place him as a prominent contender for another Best Actor Academy Award win. And Olivia is fantastic in her supporting role, trying to be a loving daughter and patient caretaker while also trying to manage her own personal life and relationship.

Without overdoing the production value or overcomplicating the narrative, debut director and co-writer Florian Zeller translates his stage play story perfectly to the screen. With Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman’s excellent performances endorsing the emotional gravity of this story, The Father is a remarkable experience that should not be missed. Anthony might struggle to remember details and information properly, but for audiences, The Father makes itself one of the most unforgettable films of the year.