Sometimes, the best dramas aren’t the ones everyone’s talking about but rather, the ones in the archives that are waiting patiently to be rediscovered. The Father is one such drama – a series about the agony of a dementia battle that features an exceptionally good performance from Olivia Colman – and, thanks to Prime Video, you can stream it tonight.
At the centre of the film is Anthony Hopkins who plays 80-year-old Anthony, a father with dementia who is determined, confused and paranoid. His daughter, Anne (Olivia), wants to help – but the reality isn’t quite so simple. If you’ve already witnessed Olivia’s brilliance in Broadchurch, we can safely say that The Father is just as watchable – but we should warn you that it does pack quite an emotional punch.
With the film now available to stream in full, here’s everything you need to know about The Father before you watch it, including the plot, cast, trailer and how to tune in.
What is The Father about?
The film, which was first released in the UK in 2021, stars Anthony Hopkins as a mischievous 80-year-old with dementia (also called Anthony), who lives alone and is determined to continue doing so. His daughter, Anne (Olivia Colman), knows that her father needs help and introduces a series of carers for him – each of whom he rejects.
Over the course of the film, we see the world from Anthony’s viewpoint and witness the ebb and flow of Anthony’s memory, as he tries to him to his identity and his past. At the same time, Anne is grieving the loss of her father – a process that, as anyone who’s had a friend or relative with dementia will know, is made even more agonising by the fact that her father still lives and breathes before her.
Olivia told Screen Daily of the film: “I’d seen programs and films made about dementia, and you were an onlooker watching. But to read it, to be as confused as the person, as Anthony Hopkins’s character, was an extraordinary point of view that I’d never considered. Suddenly it felt like, “Oh God, of course that’s how awful it feels.” I can’t imagine anything that touches it in quite the same way, and quite so beautifully, as Florian’s script.”
Director Florian Zeller added: “I wanted to put the audience in a unique position, as if they were experiencing what it means to lose your bearings. I wanted the audience to be in an active position, to go through a labyrinth and to question everything they are witnessing. We played a lot with the set, in order to play with the feeling of disorientation. It was a very exciting and challenging for us to find that delicate balance, to create that feeling without being too obvious.”
Who’s in the cast of The Father?
The cast of The Father includes:
- Olivia Colman (Broadchurch)
- Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs)
- Mark Gatiss (Bookish)
- Imogen Poots (28 Weeks Later)
- Rufus Sewell (The Diplomat)
- Olivia Williams (The Sixth Sense)
- Ayesha Dharker (Anita & Me)
Is there a trailer for The Father?
Yes, you can watch the trailer for The Father below.
Is The Father any good?
Yes – if you thought Olivia Colman was good in Broadchurch, you’ll be reminded quite how brilliant she is in The Father. It’s a poignant film that shows dementia from a perspective rarely seen on screens and Olivia’s performance is matched (maybe even surpassed) by the incredible Anthony Hopkins. Naturally, he won an Oscar for it.
How can I watch The Father?
The Father is available to watch now on Lionsgate+ via Prime Video.
What other Olivia Colman dramas can I watch now?
If you haven’t yet seen The Night Manager, it’s a very good place to start. Adapted from the late John le Carré’s 1993 novel, Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) is the soldier turned hotel night manager who’s recruited by MI6 officer Angela Burr (Olivia Colman) to infiltrate the illegal international arms operation run by the lethally charming Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie). You can watch The Night Manager on BBC iPlayer. For something a little lighter, we’d recommend The Roses. Olivia plays one half of a warring couple who enter an epic divorce battle. You can watch The Roses on Disney+. For more great Olivia Colman dramas you can watch now, check out our pick of her best roles here.
