Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Manchester by the Sea is a quiet, powerful character drama about loss, guilt and the limits of forgiveness. The film follows Lee Chandler, a withdrawn, bitter handyman living in Quincy, Massachusetts, whose life is upended when he is suddenly forced to return to his small coastal hometown after his brother Joe dies. Lee discovers that Joe has named him the legal guardian of his 16-year-old son, Patrick, and must confront the impossible choice of uprooting the boy or staying in a place haunted by an unspeakable past. The story unfolds largely through Lee’s present-day struggles and a series of wrenching flashbacks that slowly reveal the tragedy that tore his life apart. Much of the drama is quiet and interior: mundane tasks, awkward conversations, and the weight of memories that Lee tries to avoid. Patrick’s teenage grief and stubborn desire to preserve his father’s life—his friends, hockey, and a decrepit fishing boat—clash with Lee’s inability to be the kind of emotional anchor a guardian should be. Watching Manchester by the Sea is an intimate, sometimes painful experience. The film’s tone is spare and realistic; humor and warmth peek through in small, honest moments, but the prevailing mood is somber and reflective. You’ll feel the cold, coastal atmosphere, the claustrophobia of small-town judgment, and the rawness of two men learning how to care for one another while grieving. The performances (notably Casey Affleck as Lee and Lucas Hedges as Patrick) are restrained and deeply affecting, turning ordinary interactions into emotionally resonant moments. If you see this movie, expect a slow-burning, emotionally honest character study rather than plot-driven action. It rewards patience—its impact comes from accumulated details and the slow unveiling of Lee’s past—and leaves you with a lingering sense of sorrow mixed with a fragile, hard-won hope.
Actors: Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler
Director: Kenneth Lonergan
Runtime: 137 min
Genre: Drama
7.1
/10
96
/100
7.8
/10
8.2
/10