MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

US, 2016, 137 minutes, Colour.
Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Tate Donovan, Josh Hamilton, Gretchen Moll, Matthew Broderick.
Directed by Kenneth Lonergan.

Writer-director Kenneth Lonergan must have a great love for Manchester-by-the-Sea?, a fishing town on the Massachusetts coast – even during the credits he has many loving shots of the water, the islands, the coast as well as the town itself. He is able to communicate the atmosphere of the small town and its life – and its place by the sea.

This is a very moving film, a very humane film which ordinary audiences can readily identify with.

This is the story of Lee Chandler, one of his very best performances from Casey Affleck who anchors what is quite a long film. We find him as a handyman working in Boston, able in his maintenance jobs but subject to criticism and clash with clients, sometimes more than a touch abrasive. He lives alone. He drinks alone in bars. He sometimes breaks out in anger and brawling. As yet, we don’t really know how he ticks, what motivates him.

The next step in the narrative is his getting the news that his older brother, Joe (Kyle Chandler) has died from heart disease. Lee has to go to the hospital in neighbouring Beverly to see his brother and then arrange funeral matters, and then to Manchester to see Joe’s son, Patrick (Lucas Hedges), a great favourite with his Uncle Lee.

As Lee drives we begin a series of flashbacks which gradually reveal the family story, Lee’s marriage to Randi and their three children, Lee and his fondness for Patrick and their expeditions on the fishing boat at sea with Joe and his partner, George. We find that the family had known that Joe had a heart condition but that his wife (Gretchen Moll) could not deal with this, was alcoholic and walked out.

Gradually the film builds up the portrait of Lee, giving the audience a sudden shock when it is revealed what has damaged Lee and his wife and caused their separation.

The film is also a portrait of Patrick, a 16-year-old, sometimes on the aggressive side at hockey practice, fancying himself with the girls, in fact having two in tow and wanting his uncle to keep his secrets safe. Patrick finds it difficult to express his grief – and is particularly upset because it is winter, the ground too hard to dig a grave and so his father will have to be kept in a freezer in the morgue.

But it is the issue of what is to happen to Patrick with his father’s death, contact with his mother or not, Lee becoming his guardian as his brother wanted him to, even providing the finance for support, the house, the boat, but Lee very hesitant and wanting to go back to Boston, not wanting to stay in Manchester, and Patrick wanting to stay in the town which he knows well and with all his friends.

The acting is very strong with the two central leads but also with Michelle Williams having some very telling scenes as Lee’s wife, Randi.

The screenplay is down-to-earth (with quite a lot of contemporary swearing) but also has insight into human nature, feelings and emotions, conflicts and the need for decision-making.

Considered one of the best films from the US in 2016 – much to commend it.

1. Acclaim and awards for the film? Kenneth Lonergan as writer-director? The cast?

2. The images of the town, the Massachusetts coast, the sea, Islands, the boats, fishing? Homes, school? Neighbouring towns, hospital, roads? Boston, the streets, apartments, maintenance work?

3. The musical score, the selections from Handel and other classics? Songs, Beginning to see the light…?

4. The narrative direction of the film, a portrait of Lee, Casey Affleck’s performance? In Boston, his maintenance work, the encounter with the various clients, his manner, the clashes, the superintendent? News of his brother’s collapse, driving to Manchester? Coping with the experience? His personal grief and memories? The importance of Patrick, his memories? The will, the issue of guardianship? His reflection for his decision?

5. The insertion of the flashbacks, the effect, Lee’s memories, the picture of his family, scenes at home, Joe and his illness, the discussions in the hospital, his wife’s tantrum, the father’s calmness? The tragic night, cards with his friends, drinking? Randi and her reprimands? Going to the shop, coming back and seeing the fire, the bodies of the children, Randi being carried in the ambulance? The later interrogations, his explanation about what had happened? The consequences of grief, pain and anger?

6. Lee in himself, ordinary man, younger, relationship with Joe, with his father, Joe’s illness, the friendship with George, on the boat? The effect of his own family tragedy? His aggressive attitudes after drinking, brawling in the bars? Moving to Boston, trying to cope?

7. Joe, a good man, older brother, good son, his age, his heart condition, collapse, the discussion in the hospital, his life expectancy? His wife, drinking, her leaving? The scene of her on the couch and his covering her? With Patrick, as a boy, fishing, with Uncle Lee? With George, his sudden collapse? Identifying the body, in the morgue, no burial because of the frozen ground, his body being kept frozen in the morgue, Patrick and his reaction?

8. Patrick, his age, seeing him as a young boy, on the boat, fishing, relating well to his father, to his uncle? The news of his father’s death, with the hockey, the fight, the role of the coach, handling the news? Merely glimpsing his father’s body, yet upset that there was no funeral, his body in the freezer? Staying with Lee, the girlfriend, his friends, the conversation after the death? The Star Trek argument? His concern, going to see Sandy, staying with her, the sexual attempts, asking Lee to cover for him? Sandy’s mother, Lee refusing the meals, going in, no conversation, the effect on the mother? Patrick and his moods? The response to the will, the boat, selling his father’s guns to buy a new motor? Working with George?

9. The will, the lawyer, Lee as guardian, Joe providing the cash for Lee and Patrick, the house, Lee and his memories as he listened to the will? Not wanting to be guardian, the delay? Patrick’s reaction? The meal with George and his wife, the discussions about adoption?

10. Randi, tough, love for her children, strong with Lee, ousting his friends, the experience of the fire, in hospital, the death of her children? Leaving Lee, the new partner, the phone call, announcing her pregnancy, wanting to come to the funeral, her presence at the funeral? With the baby? Encountering Lee on the street, want to express her feelings, her love for Lee, Lee unable to listen, leaving?

11. Patrick, the communication with his mother, the phone call and Lee hanging up, the email, the visit, her sprucing herself up, a new partner, the religious background, the meal, saying grace? Table discussions, the edge, her going into the kitchen… Her possibly drinking? The later letter from her partner asking Patrick to go through him, sensitive about his mother?

12. George, the partner with Joe, a good man, on the boat, with Joe at his death, at the hospital, with Patrick, the issue of the motor, Lee and his meal, their agreement about the adoption, their own children?

13. Lee, looking for local jobs, the hostile wife and rejection? His decision to go back to Boston? Getting an apartment, jobs, maintenance, having two rooms, for Patrick to visit?

14. Patrick, the values of having his family, of being loved, his finally weeping, the experience of the funeral? Their visiting the grave, the tombstone?

15. The quiet ending, Lee and Patrick fishing, the prospects for the future?