The story of Lee Chandler is a study of a mans decent into
depression brought about by an accident that leads to a terrible tragedy for
which he blames himself. In Kenneth Lonergan’s movie Manchester by the Sea
(2016), which he wrote and directed, we learn how a simple mistake can alter
the lives of the people directly involved as well as people on the periphery of
the incident.
Its brother Joe's death that brings Lee back home. |
When we first meet Lee Chandler (Casey
Affleck) we quickly relies that he is a bitter and lonely man who works as
a janitor in a private block of apartments in Boston. On receiving the news
that his older brother Joe (Kyle Chandler)
has died from a pre-existing congenital heart condition Lee returns to his home
town of Manchester by the Sea a fishing village in Massachusetts where he was
born and raised. Lee not only realises that he is going to have to confront the
events that drove him away in the first place, revealed in an extended
flashback, but he then finds out that Joe has made him the sole guardian of his
teenage son Patrick (Lucas Hedges), a role he knows he is incapable of fulfilling.
This is an authentic and stunning character study from
Lonergan whose writing along with Douglas Aibel skill at casting really makes
this poignant tale of grief and guilt a must see movie. This critically acclaimed film that quite
rightly been nominated for six awards at the 89th Academy Awards:
Best Picture, Best Director Best Supporting Actor (Hedges) Best Supporting
Actress (Michelle
Williams who plays Lee Chandlers wife Randi) and Best Actor for Affleck and
Best Original Screenplay for Lonergan, two nominations it must surly must win
and did at last nights BAFTA’s in London.
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