REVIEW: “Manchester by the Sea”

By Meseret Carver,
BlueDevilHUB.com Editor–

[Warning: Spoilers]

“Manchester by the Sea,” directed by Kenneth Lonergan, is the story of a depressed man, Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck), who is forced to confront his past in the wake of his brothers expected death.

Lee lives in a one bedroom apartment in the basement of a home in Boston. Working as a janitor in the city, he lives from day to day, distancing himself from anyone he came in contact with.

Through flashbacks, we learn about his life before the present; he has three young kids, a wife (Michelle Williams) and lives in the small town along with his brother. We learn of his brother’s severe heart condition that will eventually kill him. In the past Lee was a comedic, sarcastic ball of fun but, slowly, we see his personality change as layers of his life are peeled back one by one until all was left was a fearful pessimist.

Lee’s depression comes from the loss of his children. All three of his children died in a fire in his own home. After a drunken night, he had lit the fireplace and forgotten to put the screen up before leaving to buy groceries.

When he returned to his house was up in flames, his young, sleeping children trapped inside. His wife, in a frantic upset, blamed him for their deaths and he blames himself, as well. After attempting to take his life, he leaves town and starts working as a janitor in Boston.

Now, he is called back to his small hometown to take care of his brother’s funeral arrangements, meet with lawyers and act as a guardian to his 16-year-old nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges).

Lee is fighting his brother’s Will which calls for him to move back to his hometown to take care of Patrick. This brings backs memories of his children and how he lost them. He has never forgiven himself for that and that is clear when he is reunited with his ex-wife at his brother’s funeral.

Although she is still broken hearted about her three children, she has moved on and is now pregnant. She apologizes to Lee for all the terrible things she said to him before their separation and urges him to forgive himself as she has forgiven him but he is unable.

He continues to refuse to be Patrick’s guardian but he cannot help getting sucked into his nephew’s life. He drives Patrick to band practices and School, and Patrick confides in Lee about his multiple girlfriends.

It is a beautiful story of a man fighting with his past while trying for a future. Casey Affleck is impeccable in this role of a broken man. He finds himself trapped in a circle of grief but he soon learns to forgive himself as another child is brought into his life.

Although his job is to help his nephew get passed this tough time, for Lee this loss is a reminder of his greater and more unexpected death of his children. Like Lonergan’s “Margaret” and “You Can Count on Me,” the theme of loss is eminent but portrayed not in a sad but beautiful way but exceptional performances from all the actors.