Anthony (Anthony Hopkins) lives alone in his London flat, but has been starting to forget and mix things up. His daughter, Anne (Olivia Colman), has tried to hire various caretakers to assist him when she is not around, but her father keeps running them off, threatening them verbally and physically. It’s getting increasingly difficult to find someone who is willing to take the job. She even moves Anthony into her own apartment and has been trying to take care of him herself, but Anthony’s condition is rapidly deteriorating. His memory is getting worse, and Anthony is becoming more and more paranoid and angry. In one moment he can be sweet, charming and wonderful, happily flirting with new caretaker Laura (Imogen Poots), and the next minute someone will say something that triggers him. He will start yelling at Anne, often brining her to tears, telling her how her sister Lucy is his favorite daughter, and how he wishes she were there. He is also constantly accusing caretakers and Anne’s husband, Paul (Rufus Sewell), of stealing his prized watch, which he keeps misplacing. The whole situation has become both physically and emotionally draining for Anne, and is also starting to affect her relationship with her husband. Anne struggles with the idea of moving her father to a nursing home—a notion that just further upsets Anthony.

The Father is a tough film to watch, especially if you’ve had a loved one go through this sort of dementia. The film is expertly crafted to put the viewer through the same disorientation and confusion experienced by the character of Anthony. Things often don’t make any sense, stories told by the characters don’t match up, and the same characters sometimes look completely different. You don’t necessarily know what part of the characters’ stories are even true. Some characters, like Anne, are often dressed in similar clothing from scene to scene, making it difficult to determine how much time has passed, or when certain events occurred. As a viewer this is simultaneously both frustrating and genius, forcing the viewer to experience the film from the eyes of Anthony.

Hopkins gives a very raw and realistic portrayal of a man suffering from dementia. Shortly into the movie, Anne tells Anthony that she’s heading off to Paris to be with a man she recently met. However, in the next scene Anthony sees a different-looking Anne (played by Olivia Williams) and another man (played by Mark Gatiss), who says he’s been Anne’s husband for 10 years. Anthony is obviously confused by this situation (as are we, the viewer), but he just nods his head and agrees, faking it as though everything makes perfect sense. He knows something is wrong, but fears to admit it, and if someone calls him out on it, he just gets upset and angry, or accuses Anne of being the one with the bad memory. Anne always takes the brunt of Anthony’s frustrations. In these emotionally-charged scenes, it’s easy to see why Anthony Hopkins took home the Oscar this year. His performance is so amazing, and hauntingly realistic, based on personal experiences. Olivia Colman was also deservedly nominated for her performance as well. It is heartbreaking to see this woman be beat down by the person she is struggling to help at the expense of her own relationships and happiness. This is certainly not the feel-good film of the year, but it is very well-crafted with captivating performances.

Sony’s Blu-ray release of The Father features a pristine picture, with a clean, crisp look and beautiful muted colors. Nearly the entire film takes place inside the apartment, with carefully composed still shots that are always impeccably lit, as characters move in and out of each scene. There is an excellent level of detail, particularly in close-up shots of faces, or of the wood grain on doors and floorboards. Being adapted from a stage play, the film is primarily dialogue-driven. Even as Anthony’s monologues turn to anger and yelling, the dialogue always remains crystal clear. While a surround track is provided, it feels more like a mono track—though a very good one. Most sound comes from the center channel—even when Anthony is listening to his opera music, though the music still manages to sound quite full.

The Blu-ray disc comes packed in a standard HD keepcase with a cardboard slipcover. There is no digital copy included. As for bonus material, the disc contains about 15 minutes of interviews with the cast and filmmakers, plus 3 deleted scenes, and the film’s theatrical trailer.

What’s Included:

Film: (1:36:59)

• 1080p / Widescreen 2.39:1
• Audio: English 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
• Subtitles: English, English SDH

Extras:

• Perception Check: Portrait of The Father (8:32)
  The cast and filmmakers discuss the characters, themes, and how the film is told from Anthony’s perspective, causing the viewer to experience dementia through his eyes. Anthony Hopkins talks about using his personal experiences with a relative to help inform his performance, while the others discuss what it was like working with the award-winning actor. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with writer/director Florian Zeller, producer David Parfitt, and stars Anthony Hopkins (“Anthony”), Olivia Colman (“Anne”), Mark Gatiss (“The Man”), Olivia Williams (“The Woman”) & Rufus Sewell (“Paul”).
• Homecoming: Making The Father (7:06)
  The cast and filmmakers discuss what it was like working with the first-time director, going from the stage production to the film, the design and function of the apartment set, the evolution of the costumes, and more. Includes behind-the-scenes footage, and interviews with production designer Peter Francis, producer David Parfitt, writer/director Florian Zeller, director of photography Ben Smithard, costume designer Anna Mary Scott Robbins, and stars Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, Rufus Sewell, Olivia Williams & Mark Gatiss.
• Deleted Scenes (5:58)
  Play All, or select from:
  • I Never Asked You For Anything (2:07)
    Anne struggles while asking her father to move in with her, and gets upset when he brings up her sister, Lucy.
  • Did He Hear? (2:22)
    Anne talks to Paul about the sad state of her father, and about possibly putting him into a nursing home.
  • Frightened (1:38)
    Anne tells Paul that she thinks her father is afraid of him. She feels guilty at the notion of putting her father into a home and going on a vacation.
• Theatrical Trailer (2:15)
• Previews (11:05)
  Trailers for The Truffle Hunters, French Exit, I Carry You With Me, The Last Vermeer and Nine Days play back-to-back.

Final Thoughts:

The Father is a rough film to watch at times, holding nothing back while portraying a man succumbing to dementia, and the effects it has on himself and his daughter. The film is expertly crafted to make the viewer experience the same feelings of frustration, disorientation and confusion felt my the main character. Hopkins and Colman give knockout emotional performances. Sony’s Blu-ray release features a stunning picture and simple but excellent sound. The disc also includes a small but welcome selection of bonus material. This release is definitely worth checking out—this may not be the feel-good movie of the year, but it will certainly stir up many emotions.