Manchester by the Sea

Kenneth Lonergan’s 2016 film Manchester by the Sea offers a poignant study on the multifaceted effects of mourning and death. At the time of its release, this film was critically acclaimed as one of the best films of the decade. This film follows a more traditional form of realism throughout, as Lonergan instills upon the audience a sense of organic rawness in emotion and timing, interestingly choosing to pull back in key moments of the plot that would normally evoke the greatest swell of emotion within the characters and soundscore. Realistic to real life grieving, the breakdown moments and crises of characters occur in the awkward, unexpected, and improperly timed occasions of daily life. What stems forth in this technique is an interesting dichotomy - the coexistence of two opposite states. These states are altogether emotional numbness, and an overwhelming abundance of emotion. Main character Lee survives between these two states throughout the course of the film, most often numb to the people and previous life he has lost, while still being given small glimpses into the moments emotions do take over for him. Much discussion has developed over this movie since its release, some arguing that it is simply too bleak for them to muster any true inspiration or meaning out of. Others revere its adherence to realism, and the ways in which it authentically portrays not merely human grief, but also human love, and the healing that comes through the passage of time. I would argue for the latter as well, in that the austere nature of this movie actually directs one closer to the existential questions of where one is going when this life is over. It poses the questions of what there is to live for, outside of the peak moments of life, outside of the comfort and guises of a futile state of “happiness”. For that reason, I find this movie to be extremely important, as it does not shy away from a reality that suffuses all of our lives at some point. Life, in spite of suffering, still holds an inherent dignity to it. The closing scene of this movie offers this exact message, a glimmer of hope and restoration. For this reason, I believe realism and organic expression is fundamental in the form of film. Otherwise, we see a trend of over idealizing the passing things of this life take shape, and pervade the film industry, and all other forms of media. This film does a fantastic job of counteracting this, and I hope to see more films to this creative caliber in the future.

It's a beautiful performance of a poignant yet realistic story. Wrapped under that cold and detached appearance is a broken heart being punished for his deadly mistake.