Manchester by the Sea
Overview
Manchester by the Sea is a 2016 psychological drama film written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, starring Casey Affleck as Lee Chandler, a depressed, lonely janitor who returns to his hometown after his brother's death. The film is set in the small, coastal town of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts. Lee lives in a basement apartment in Boston, working as a handyman. He is emotionally numb, distant, and prone to violence. He gets into bar fights for no reason. He receives a call that his brother Joe (Kyle Chandler) has died of a heart attack. He returns to Manchester to take care of his nephew, Patrick (Lucas Hedges), a popular, outgoing 16-year-old who plays hockey and has two girlfriends. Joe's will names Lee as Patrick's guardian, a responsibility that Lee does not want and does not feel capable of handling. The film alternates between the present, where Lee tries to figure out what to do with Patrick, and flashbacks, which reveal the tragedy that broke Lee. Lee was married to Randi (Michelle Williams), and they had three children. One night, Lee was drinking and using drugs. He started a fire in his fireplace, but forgot to put the screen back. He left to go to the store, and the fire spread, killing his children. He tried to kill himself at the police station, but the gun jammed. Randi divorced him, and he moved to Boston. The film is a devastating portrait of grief and guilt. Lee is a man who cannot forgive himself, and he does not believe he deserves to be happy. He tries to stay in Manchester, but he cannot. He sees Randi on the street, and she tries to apologize for blaming him. He cannot accept her apology. He tells Patrick that he cannot be his guardian. He arranges for Patrick to live with Joe's friend George, and he returns to Boston. The film ends with Lee and Patrick walking through the cemetery, talking about nothing. The film is not a redemption story. Lee does not get better. He is still broken. Casey Affleck won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance. The film also won Oscars for Best Original Screenplay. Manchester by the Sea is a beautiful, heartbreaking, and honest film about the nature of grief.
