The Father (2020 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 27 January 2020 |
| Founder | Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton |
| Headquarters | France, United Kingdom |
| Products | Psychological drama film |
The Father is a 2020 psychological drama feature marking the directorial debut of Florian Zeller. Co-written with playwright Christopher Hampton, the film is an adaptation of Zeller's 2012 theatrical work Le Père. This French-British collaboration stars Anthony Hopkins portraying an elderly Welshman suffering from dementia, supported by performances from Olivia Colman, Mark Gatiss, Imogen Poots, Rufus Sewell, and Olivia Williams.
The film premiered on 27 January 2020 at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, though its general release was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It subsequently debuted in France on 26 May 2021 and in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2021. Produced with a budget of $6 million, it achieved a global box office total of $36 million. Critics lauded the portrayals by Hopkins and Colman, alongside the film’s production values and its realistic representation of dementia. At the 93rd Academy Awards, it received six nominations, including for Best Picture; Hopkins secured the Best Actor award, while Zeller and Hampton won for Best Adapted Screenplay. The movie is widely regarded as one of the most distinguished films of both the 2020s and the 21st century.
Plot
Anne visits her father Anthony, who is affected by dementia, after he dismisses multiple caregivers. He forgets significant occasions and loses belongings, such as his watch, which he suspects a caretaker has stolen. Anne informs him she plans to relocate to Paris with a partner, which confuses Anthony since he remembers no such relationship following her divorce from James. She cautions that refusal of care might result in his placement in a nursing facility.
Anthony encounters a man named Paul in his apartment, who claims to be Anne’s spouse and insists that Anthony live with them. To Anthony, Anne appears as a different woman. Upon the arrival of a new caregiver named Laura, Anthony insists he requires no assistance and notes she resembles his daughter Lucy, whom he has not seen for years.
Despite medical advice, Anthony denies having memory issues. He expresses pride in Lucy, who is an artist, though he is puzzled about an accident involving her. It becomes apparent that Anthony has been living with Anne for several years but believes he still resides alone. Anne and her husband—sometimes referred to as Paul, other times James—disagree over canceled plans caused by Anthony’s care needs and her personal sacrifices. Paul confronts Anthony about overstaying his welcome and later strikes him.
Anthony awakens in a hospital corridor recalling Lucy’s hospitalization before finding himself in a nursing home room. His nurse, who previously appeared as Anne and Laura but now identifies herself as Catherine, informs him that Anne lives in Paris and visits occasionally. Another nurse named Bill resembles one of the men claiming to be Anne’s husband. Overcome by confusion and grief, Anthony breaks down; Catherine comforts him and promises to take him out.
Cast
- Anthony Hopkins as Anthony
- Olivia Colman as Anne
- Rufus Sewell as Paul
- Imogen Poots as Laura
- Olivia Williams as The Woman (Catherine)
- Mark Gatiss as The Man (Bill)
- Ayesha Dharker as Dr Sarai
Production
In May 2019, it was announced that Florian Zeller would direct the film adaptation co-written with Christopher Hampton, based on Zeller’s original play. Early casting included Anthony Hopkins and Olivia Colman, with later additions such as Olivia Williams, Rufus Sewell, Imogen Poots, and Mark Gatiss joining within the same month. Principal photography commenced on 13 May at various locations including West London Film Studios and sites within Hayes, Hillingdon.
The production was undertaken by companies including Les Films du Cru, Film4, Orange Studio, StudioCanal, and Ciné+.
Release
The Father made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival on 27 January 2020. Before this premiere, distribution rights for the U.S. and the UK were secured by Sony Pictures Classics and Lionsgate, respectively. The film also featured at the Toronto International Film Festival on 14 September 2020 and was showcased at the AFI Fest in October 2020.
In the United States, it started a limited theatrical run in New York City and Los Angeles on 26 February 2021, followed by a premium video on demand release on 26 March, after an initial planned release date of 18 December 2020 was delayed. The movie was introduced to Indian audiences on 23 April 2021 and later premiered in the UK on 11 June 2021, both postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions. It was released in mainland China on 18 June 2021.
Box office
Worldwide, The Father accumulated $36.4 million, with $2.1 million generated from the United States and Canada and $34.3 million from other territories. During its opening weekend in the U.S., it earned $433,611 across 865 theaters, ranking eighth at the box office. After receiving six Oscar nominations, earnings rose to $355,000 from 937 theaters; following two Oscar wins, it garnered an additional $147,000 from 713 theaters, reaching a total of $1.9 million domestically. In Spain, the film debuted with $171,901 from 156 venues and continued with $160,378 and $54,901 in subsequent weekends.
Critical response
Audience feedback via PostTrak indicated that 84% of viewers responded positively, with 54% strongly recommending the film.
Anthony Hopkins earned extensive praise for his portrayal of Anthony, securing his second Academy Award for Best Actor at age 83, making him the oldest recipient in this category. Critics often cited his performance as among his finest work.
Owen Gleiberman of Variety emphasized the film’s distinctive method of illustrating mental decline by placing viewers within the protagonist’s experience. Benjamin Lee from The Guardian described Hopkins's acting as "astonishing" and deeply emotional.
Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter regarded it as "the finest film about aging’s consequences since Amour," praising both Hopkins’s acting and Florian Zeller's directorial debut.
David Ehrlich of Indiewire commended Zeller’s assured adaptation and insightful exploration of dementia’s effects on patients and their caregivers.
Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times called the movie "extraordinarily effective and profoundly moving," while Anne Billson of The Guardian considered Hopkins's performance his best to date.
According to The Times, The Father ranks as "one of the most remarkable cinematic experiences of this decade."
Legacy
In 2021, The Father was included in Forbes' list of "The Top 150 Greatest Films Of The 21st Century." The following year, Time Out positioned it at number 93 within their "100 Best Films of the 21st Century So Far," highlighting its depiction of dementia as a disorienting journey. By 2023, Collider ranked it second among "The 20 Best Drama Movies of the 2020s So Far," applauding its innovative portrayal of memory loss through the lead character’s viewpoint. Additionally, it placed 27th on Collider's "30 Best Drama Movies of All Time," noted for its compelling psychological narrative and immersive storytelling. In 2024, Looper listed it as number 42 in their "50 Best PG-13 Movies of All Time," recognizing its haunting atmosphere and empathetic lead performance.
Selections
- Sundance Film Festival: official selection
- Toronto International Film Festival: official selection
- Telluride Film Festival: official selection
- San Sebastián International Film Festival: featured in the Pearls section
- Zurich Film Festival: official selection
- Hamptons International Film Festival: official selection
- Dinard British Film Festival
Accolades
| Award ! scope="col" |Category ! scope="col" |Recipient ! scope="col" |Result |
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Related film
The Son (2022), adapted from Zeller's 2018 play, functions partly as a prequel to The Father, featuring a brief cameo by Anthony Hopkins and with Zeller serving as writer and director.
External links
| Award ! scope="col" |Category ! scope="col" |Recipient ! scope="col" |Result |
|---|
- 2020 films
- 2020 directorial debut films
- 2020 drama films
- 2020 independent films
- 2020s British films
- 2020s English-language films
- 2020s French films
- 2020s psychological drama films
- César Award for Best Foreign Film winners
- British films addressing Alzheimer's disease
- British stage play adaptations
- British psychological dramas
- Canal+ productions
- English-language French cinema
- English-language independent movies
- Film4 Productions releases
- Films exploring father–daughter dynamics
- Films adapted from Florian Zeller's works
- Films directed by Florian Zeller
- Films with Academy Award-winning Best Actor performances
- Films delayed due to the COVID-19 crisis
- Films produced by Philippe Carcassonne
- Films with scores by Ludovico Einaudi
- Films set in residential buildings
- Films set in London
- Films filmed in London
- Films whose screenplay won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
- Screenplays by Christopher Hampton
- French films about Alzheimer's disease
- French stage play adaptations
- French psychological dramas
- Lionsgate releases
- Orange Studio productions
- Satellite Award recipients
- Sony Pictures Classics releases
- Canal+ films