The movie tells the story between Anthony, an elderly father suffering from Alzheimer’s disease (dementia), and his daughter Annie.
Through Anthony’s perspective, the film leads the audience to experience the inner world of an Alzheimer’s patient. Through the fragmented narrative structure, the film skillfully shows the confusion of Anthony’s memory and the dislocation of time, which gives the audience a strong sense of immersion and makes the film full of suspense and tension.
The director further enhances the immersion of the film through clever camera language and plot design. For example, the watch that Anthony keeps searching for symbolizes his control over time and self, while the disappearance of the watch suggests his loss of control over reality.
2020 / UK France / Drama / Florent Zeller / Anthony Hopkins Olivia Colman
In a repetitive plus fragmented sensory narrative, the film follows the aging and ailing Anthony (Anthony HopkinsAnthony Hopkins), who is faced with a difficult life choice – whether to move to a nursing home or accept the new caregiver his daughter seeks.
In the process, Anthony finds himself on a strange journey through time and space, with disjointed memories and timelines intertwining to create a mind-boggling story, and strange yet familiar people leaving him in a state of confusion.
The movie is based on the stage play “The Father” by French novelist and playwright Florent Zeller.
