The Father

Anthony is an older man who lives alone in a London flat and insists that he can manage without help. His daughter, Anne, tries to arrange care after he scares away a helper, while she prepares to move to Paris to be with a man she loves. Anthony's dementia makes the people, rooms, and events around him shift, and he cannot tell which parts of his life are real. The film feels sad and tense, and some scenes become frightening as he loses more of his grip on his surroundings. The story stays close to Anthony and Anne as they face the effect of his failing memory on their family. Anne carries much of the work of finding care, while Anthony can be charming, angry, scared, and helpless from one moment to the next. Their arguments show the hurt and stress that can grow when a parent needs more help than a child can provide. The film ends with Anthony in a care home, where a nurse's kindness brings him some comfort, though he still feels lost.