Movies of the Mind - The Father - Dementia Dictates the Fate of a Dad - 11/04/26
Apr, 11 2026
When an actor reaches a certain age they begin to get typecast on specific roles. Established welsh actor Anthony Hopkins has played some gripping and fascinating characters over the years but the focus of this blog sees him take on a much more challenging role and one that if you’re familiar with the dementia condition can closely associate with.
Take a look at the 2020 psychological drama trailer for ‘The Father’ –
The Father grossed $36 million worldwide on a $6 million budget and was acclaimed by critics, who lauded the performances of Hopkins and Colman, as well as the production values and the portrayal of dementia. At the 93rd Academy Awards, The Father received six nominations, including Best Picture; Hopkins won Best Actor and Zeller and Hampton won Best Adapted Screenplay. Since then, it has been cited as one of the best films of the 2020s and the 21st century.
Accolades aside, the thematic run of dementia is consistent throughout the film as we see ‘The Father’s’ mind gradually deteriorate he begins to lose the very people he loves in his life. But this isn’t an isolated concept film, dementia is a very real condition and effects people in a variety of ways these include –
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Finding it hard to carry out familiar daily tasks, such as getting confused over the correct change when shopping
- Struggling to follow a conversation or find the right word
- Being confused about time and place
- Mood changes
These symptoms are often mild and may get worse only very gradually. It's often termed "mild cognitive impairment" (MCI) as the symptoms are not severe enough to be diagnosed as dementia.
You might not notice these symptoms if you have them, and family and friends may not notice or take them seriously for some time. In some people, these symptoms will remain the same and not worsen. But some people with MCI will go on to develop dementia.
Dementia is not a natural part of ageing. This is why it's important to talk to a GP sooner rather than later if you're worried about memory problems or other symptoms.
Louis Theroux is one of media’s most celebrated journalists he invites us into his world and captures pivotal moments and sometimes controversial individuals. The following is an excerpt from ‘Dealing with a parent with dementia' – Louis Theroux – Extreme Love – Dementia – BBC –
If you’re currently caring for someone perhaps a loved one or a family friend with dementia then you will find the following website link extremely helpful –
At the time of its release we were all going through our personal dementia because of the pandemic but for those suffering with the condition it is a very real experience and can often be a very distressing time both for the sufferer and for the families involved.
The Guardian’s Benjamin Lee said the following in response to viewing The Father -
"It's astounding, heart-breaking work, watching him try to rationally explain to himself and those around him what he's experiencing. In some of the film's most quietly upsetting moments, his world has shifted yet again but he remains silent, knowing that any attempt to question what he's woken up to will only fall on deaf ears. Hopkins runs the full gamut of emotions from fury to outrage to longing for his mother like a little child and never once does it feel like a constructed character bit, despite our association with him as an actor with a storied career."
Hopkins brought so much depth and accuracy with a well- researched consideration of the role to be able to bring something so powerful with attention to detail without losing the point of the film – to make the viewer understand the harrowing deterioration of dementia and how it can cripple someone who once knew so much till their sad and ultimate end.
^Alex Ashworth CCG Content Creator
