Anyone who has witnessed a family member slowly slide into dementia will likely find a lot of familiar scenarios in the new trailer for THE FATHER, a powerful drama starring Anthony Hopkins as an aging man whose grip on reality is beginning to unravel. Directed and co-written by Florian Zeller, who adapted his own 2012 play Le Père, THE FATHER looks to be a powerful showcase for Hopkins and has already garnered plenty of Oscar buzz for the actor. Equally impressive is Olivia Colman as Anne, the daughter who just wants to make sure that her father is properly cared for. With its twisting of locations and cast, THE FATHER puts us in the shoes of someone desperately clinging to their memories.
In addition to Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, THE FATHER also stars Imogen Poots, Rufus Sewell, Olivia Williams, and Mark Gatiss. This certainly looks like one to keep your eye on. Although he's been nominated several times since, Hopkins hasn't taken home an Academy Award since his first win with THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS back in 1992.
The official synopsis for THE FATHER:
Anthony is 80, mischievous, living defiantly alone and rejecting the carers that his daughter, Anne, encouragingly introduces. Yet help is also becoming a necessity for Anne; she can’t make daily visits anymore and Anthony's grip on reality is unraveling. As we experience the ebb and flow of his memory, how much of his own identity and past can Anthony cling to? How does Anne cope as she grieves the loss of her father, while he still lives and breathes before her? THE FATHER warmly embraces real life, through loving reflection upon the vibrant human condition; heart-breaking and uncompromisingly poignant – a movie that nestles in the truth of our own lives.
THE FATHER is slated to hit select theaters in the U.S. on December 18, 2020 and in the U.K. on January 8, 2021.