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The 2016 movie “Manchester by the Sea”, written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, is a drama. The movie was awarded the ‘Best Original Screenplay’ at the 89th Academy Awards, while Casey Affleck, who played the main character Lee, won the ‘Best Actor’ award.

In “Manchester by the Sea,” director Kenneth Lonergan chooses to narrate his story through Lee (Casey Affleck), a character who harbors deep sadness from his past. While telling the story in a straightforward manner, Lonergan does not neglect to handle it sensitively and avoids agitation.

The main character, Lee Chandler, is a man grappling with a profound personal tragedy, trying to cling to life. Affleck not only portrays the pain but also excellently reflects the inner conflicts, the void, and the loneliness of the character. Affleck’s superb acting performance deeply affects the audience and facilitates empathy with the character.

At the beginning of the movie, consistent with the dominant blue color palette, we see Lee with a child on a boat. Soon after, we see Lee working as a janitor and handyman for different nearby houses. He has a certain routine and clearly exhibits signs of depression. In one house, he learns that a woman is interested in him but does nothing about it, indicating that he has also emotionally shut himself off. Later, at a bar, when a woman finds him attractive and tries to approach, he keeps her at bay, confronts some men, and gets into a fight, seemingly in a constant search to inflict pain and punishment upon himself.

Later, Lee receives a phone call informing him of his brother’s death. He immediately sets off and goes to the hospital. In an elevator scene, we flash back to learn that his brother suffered from a heart rhythm disorder and could die at any moment. Lonergan’s use of this back-and-forth narrative structure throughout the movie provides a great opportunity for the audience to understand the characters and the background of the events.

After losing his brother, Lee, without fully understanding the situation, discovers that his brother’s will appoints him as the guardian of his nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges), whose mother’s whereabouts are unknown. Lee insists he can’t take on this role, citing his life in another city and his job situation, but he is also in a state of escape. Patrick, for his part, doesn’t seem too fond of Lee either.

Both Michelle Williams and Casey Affleck deliver calm yet powerful performances.

Meanwhile, in another flashback, we see Lee arriving home to his beautiful wife Randi (Michelle Williams) and their three children. He is portrayed as a happy and content man, raising questions in the audience’s mind about what led him to his current state.

One night, while having fun at home with friends, Lee gets scolded by Randi for waking up the children. After the friends leave, and Lee goes to the store, we return home with him, accompanied by “Adagio in G Minor,” and through Lonergan’s calm camera work, we witness the house on fire. Randi is barely saved by the firefighters, but the children… tragically, they all perish in the fire. This devastating revelation explains Lee’s present-day broken state and is one of the movie’s three most impactful scenes.

Lee gives a statement to the police, explaining that they were using a humidifier due to Randi’s illness and didn’t turn on the central heating, opting to use the fireplace to warm the children instead. The fire started for this reason. When he admits he can’t remember if he put the protective grate on the fireplace, the police tell him there’s no criminal liability and he’s free to go. As he leaves, Lee lunges for a police officer’s gun in an attempted suicide, pleading “please” but is stopped by the police. This scene powerfully reveals Lee’s self-blame and guilt, making it one of the movie’s most compelling moments.

In conclusion, “Manchester by the Sea” is a compelling movie that successfully explores the transformation of a character through a tragic event in Lee’s life.

At his brother’s funeral, Lee sees his ex-wife Randi, now pregnant and with her new husband. This sight seemingly tears a part from within him, a feeling Affleck portrays very convincingly. Lee, unable to find common ground with his nephew Patrick and experiencing various conflicts, accidentally encounters Randi one day. Randi has given birth, and the baby inevitably reminds him of their lost children. In this impactful scene, one of the film’s most poignant, Randi expresses her never-ending regret for her past words, apologizes to Lee, and admits she still loves him. Lee, having already accepted the situation, is overwhelmed and leaves. Both Michelle Williams and Casey Affleck deliver calm yet powerful performances in this scene.

Eventually, Lee reconciles with Patrick, finding a common ground. He talks with his closest friend, George, and tells Patrick that George and his wife will adopt him, ensuring no disruptions to his home or school life. As the uncle and nephew begin to understand each other better, the ice between them finally melts. Patrick, at last, rolls up his sleeves to work on the boat left to him by his father, a task Lee initially opposed. Following the scene where we see Lee smile for the first time, Lonergan brings the movie full circle, ending with the uncle-nephew duo, referencing the beginning of the movie.

In conclusion, “Manchester by the Sea” is a compelling movie that successfully explores the transformation of a character through a tragic event in Lee’s life. Especially notable are the unforgettable performances by Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams, and Lonergan’s calm and serene direction, which set this movie apart in its genre.

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