Even 10 Years Later, This 96%-Rated Gem Is Still One of the Most Striking Dramas Ever Made
This film offers us the rare opportunity to experience emotions alongside the characters rather than merely observing them.
Ten years ago, Kenneth Lonergan's Manchester by the Sea was released. The seemingly simple story of a small-town mechanic returning to his hometown seemed unremarkable.
However, this indie film made it into the Oscar race and won two awards. Most importantly, it forever cemented itself in cinematic history as one of the most poignant and honest dramas about grief, guilt, and the impossibility of forgiveness.
What Is 'Manchester by The Sea' About?
Lee Chandler is a withdrawn and sullen mechanic who lives a secluded life in Boston. His tranquil existence is interrupted by the death of his older brother.
He is forced to return to his native seaside town of Manchester to attend the funeral and, as it turns out, become his 16-year-old nephew Patrick's guardian.
This return is a painful dive into a past that Lee had desperately tried to forget. The town holds the memory of a personal tragedy that changed his life forever and alienated him from everyone he loved.
'Manchester by the Sea' Earned Casey Affleck an Oscar – and Deservedly So
Casey Affleck's performance in this movie is a masterclass in expressing the inexpressible. His character, Lee, doesn't sob or scream in pain. His suffering is evident in his gaze and stiff movements, and an almost tangible emotional paralysis permeates his performance.
Affleck doesn't play depression as a cliche but as the concrete, soul-searing state of a man who is alive only because he has to be.
Playing this role required incredible inner discipline and restraint, which the actor executed with frightening authenticity. He made the viewers feel the weight of guilt and grief from within, not from the outside.
'Manchester by the Sea' Is One of the Most Thoughtful and Heartbreaking Dramas About Depression
Manchester by the Sea is not a story of catharsis or miraculous transformation. Instead of offering any comforting cliches or happy endings, the writer and director provides a mercilessly accurate portrait of life after disaster.
The movie's dramatic genius is revealed through its structure. The cold and joyless present is methodically interrupted by flashbacks that gradually form a mosaic of the past. These flashbacks explain, but do not justify, the main character's condition.
Manchester by the Sea suggests that some wounds never heal and some losses are irreparable. Some people are not destined to "cope" in the traditional sense – they are left to carry their burdens.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Manchester by the Sea'?
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Manchester by the Sea has 96% from critics and 78% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.8/10.
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On Letterboxd, Manchester by the Sea scored 4.1/5.0.
Where to Watch 'Manchester by the Sea'?
Manchester by the Sea is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.
