Showing Realistic Grief - Manchester By The Sea 

One of the most astounding element of this film is, quite frankly, its awkwardness. Or rather the awkwardness that emanates from a human being trying to share his grief to another human being. It truly captures the immensity of how difficult it is for people to connect on the unspeakable sufferings they go through in life. Such a wonderful film.

I loved the subtle ways they used to show the trauma that Casey Affleck's character still feels from the fire. He stood next to the microwave and watched it until it was done heating up his food.

the movie is only 2 hours 17 mins lenght but it feels like forever... i can feel the pain right into my chest from the very beginning. Casey was amazing in it, he really deserved those oscar!

The freezer scene is one of the best I've ever seen in cinema.

When he dreamt about his daughters and they asked if they were burning that gutted me. It conveyed the pain and regret perfectly.

Nobody understands why I love this "depressing" movie so much.. thank you!!!!

The messy paramedic scene was a mistake on set. And Lonergan was genius enough to keep it.

One of the best movies I have ever seen. Masterful direction and beautiful performances, especially by Affleck and Williams.

Fantastic analysis. Short. Straight to the point with out the bloat. This film really surprised me as I was just waiting for that big emotional payoff to occur and it constantly subverted my expectations at every turn. In fact that the most emotionally satisfying moment for me was the scene towards the end of the film where they are playing the ball on the road. Was just wonderful to watch. Subscribed.

Besides from keeping things more realistic and raw, I think that camera distance and silence help sustain the traumatic feeling about tragedy. It's almost like reality is so harsh, that not even the movie can bear saying it outloud or looking at it directly.

why are these type of videos on youtube always have similar voice for the narrator?

Good stuff. I think this movie caught me off guard with it's abrupt grief as opposed to the, for lack of a better word, manufactured grief that many movies show. It's a movie that, while I recognized was very good when I was watching it, has stuck with me and gotten better in my mind over just the last few weeks.

In our lives we can't call 'time out' to deal with profound grief and other hardships. This gem of a movie illustrates this well. A well done look into coping under emotional stress.

To me this movie is a masterpiece. I suffer from depression myself and have cried myself through the movie because I see so much of myself in Lee. To me, the climax of the film is when Lee decides to move back and says "I can't beat it". I still don't fully understand this film or that line, and they never explain exactly what is means. But I guess he confesses that he can't stand being in Manchester because of his grief.

5:15 That is EXACTLY what I experienced when my father passed away last year. The emotions came up whenever I didn't expect them whereas when you'd expect me to cry the most, I couldn't.

I've always wondered as to why the funeral scene of Lee's kids was deleted! But then I came to interpret that the movie tries to study characters in grief rather than coming up with cinematic emo scenes! Writer's magic and Casey's portrayal!

There's months from the day I watched this movie and until now I cannot really explain how it touches me. The tone, the rithym, those weird truly relations with the people he left behind, it's exactly what happens when se meet somebody from the neighborhood or the family, those compassive eyes to him and I recoginzed myself on his routine, his absence of purpose in getting out of this situation, he is just living cause he cannot end It. I felt really conected and sad about what happens to him. One of my favorits of ALL time

Totally agree with your analysis because that's what I've been through with the death of my cousin. The grief, it hits you at the moment you don't expect, this movie truly captures my feeling and thought about death and the guilty of the living.

In my experience in working with people in who have recently lost someone, grief has as many faces as there are people’s characters. Emotions we feel range from anger, through sadness, depression...but sometimes these people seem to feel nothing at all. There is no drama that we could notice as external observers. There could be no crying and no anger outbursts. Sometimes people just handle their daily tasks worse, more slowly...sometimes they start having marital problems. In some cases people start experiencing psychosomatic disorders of many types. And sometimes grief is just in awkward moments that our lives are full of.

this movie doesnt want u to love it, it just deserves your love by just being itself

I didn't understand the film when it came out. After going through some personal issues and life experiences, now I get it. It's so beautifully done.

Ouch. I didn't understand this film when I watched it a few years ago. Now, seeing your essay, after my mother passed away recently, it cuts deeply.

I think what I appreciate about the style of this film, is that even though it is a film, it plays out exactly how real life would. The Stretcher in ambulance scene is definitely something that would happen in real life after a horrible tragedy. Films re-shoot scenes multiple times, to make sure it's perfect. The fact the Director left that scene in even as an awkward/goofy situation, reflects the imperfect goofy awkward situation that would happen when you would hope it wouldn't. As a viewer watching that, you kinda chuckle even after experiencing that horrific event that played out beforehand, and suddenly your emotions are thrown into disarray, because you're sad about what just happened, but this small silly scene was funny, but for lee and everyone else who knows what lee just experienced standing there watching it play out is heart wrenching. It seems like a way for the Director to make the viewer look at Lee and feel even more sorry than they previously had. Then you just spend the rest of the film hoping that Lee can finally experience something positive.

What a great break-down you've done of this movie. REALLY good job. This helped me understand the difference between making a masterpiece like this movie, and just making a...movie.

I really love this movie, watched it multiple times when I first saw it, the music and the development of the characters and storyline plus even the sound of Affleck’s voice and his body language is just so perfect

It really is the most beautifully heartbreaking movie

This movie has a special place in my heart

Him holding up the grocery bag to the EMTs guts me everytime 💔💔💔💔💔💜💜💜💜💜

I'm a guy who doesn't agree very often with anyone but this is spot on

Well done, sir! Your analysis is (not only) spot on, but it made me feel as emotionally as this PERFECT film did. DO NOT EVER STOP making these videos...............please...........................thank you.......................

I seen this movie today….he been through soo much….but when I watch her..I was like what the hell she had done?….I know she was mad at him…but she had to wait for situations to cool down..she had to assist her husband …I didn’t know why..but if they both stayed together..& had together..they both had less pain in their life…we have to take our decisions when we are in a present situation..otherwise we end up with more rigret…

Lucas Hedges is absolutely amazing in this film

liked the "distance" point.

The acting in this movie was on another level, i dont think i have seen an acting as good as in this movie before

The movie was brutal, the portrayal of grief unmatched. Sad movies always artificially invoke emotion from the audience w the appropriate music but they just let the scenes play out without music which resulting in the empathy towards his grief slam you like a ton of bricks as though the tragedy happened to someone you personally knew. I almost started praying for Casey, I was so moved before realizing it was just a film

Excellent analysis. Thank you so much for your thoughtful work on the film. Just watching some of these clips again made me cry. An outstanding work of cinematic art.

Really loved this analysis, some great stuff here! Also thought the choice of aspect ratio was relevant to the realism of the story - the 4:3 ratio is used primarily for TV (not film) and TV is more widely associated with reality as opposed to the often fictional nature of cinema. Just thought I'd add!

This movie really got to me. How the director tackled such a sad subject is so much more effecting than the cinematic cliches you talked about.

When I first watched this film, the thing that stuck with me was that fact that resolution is elusive. It doesn't have a "clean" ending where everything is resolved. It's very non-traditional in that sense. Furthermore, it is more like our real lives where we might carry grief or pain with us for our entire lives, and never find comfort, but we keep on living.

I’ll have to rewatch this masterpiece

Love. This was my favorite movie from last year...add in C Affleck and William's performances, and this is just a perfect film in my opinion..

There are so many things about this film that are going to haunt me forever. First off, Michelle Williams screaming as the house burns to the ground. It still crushes me to think about. Then of course the apology scene in the street. Absolutely wrecked me. And Lee’s breakdown after the bar fight, with Patty trying to comfort him after he comes home beaten up. And that final scene where Lee admits that he just “can’t beat it”. This film really makes you feel the weight of his sorrow. That’s how grief is sometimes.

Whoa … this is an Excellent analysis of this film. The best I’ve seen. Thank you for making it available to us.

That movie really had an impact on me. It’s stuck w me through the years. It’s very memorable

I have yet to see this movie but this is something I’ve always thought about, everyone we see is grieving. When we lose someone the world doesn’t stop, we have to keep going even though everything has changed.

Tremendous, sensitive analysis and commentary - I completely agree. This movie has remained deep in my consciousness months after viewing. Well done

It was hard for me to pinpoint exactly what made Manchester by the Sea resonate so well for me, but you managed to do that here. It is true that it's ultimately Kenneth' s direction and how he films the scenes, using a soft melancholic musical score set against such a fitting landscape, but also his realistic portrait of grief that elevates the film. To me, this film is much more like an experience. One that feels natural, authentic, real

Another scene that perfectly captured grief was coming home to your deceased loved ones home, they completely caught the atmosphere and made me remember what it was like when my grandfather died.

Just thought I'd add that I don't think you get one single facial close-up (let alone close-up of any kind) during MBTS. Lonergan refrains from getting any tighter than a medium close-up to highlight this idea of grief creeping up on you in everyday moments. Love the video btw

Brilliant film! Accurate analysis of director's intentions on grief. Well done! Life is crueler than cinema, but this was life cinema. . .

2:02 - 2:43 Definitely! Why the film's emotions captivated me so much.

Well I think I found my new favorite video essay Channel.

i have watched around a hundred movie in the past year and still reckon this film as the best film i have ever seen From the best score to the best rated no movie has had a impact on me as Manchester by the Sea.

This movie is underrated. I watched it yesterday and it is all too real. That’s good! It is kind of funny too but dark funny. I liked it.

Keep these videos coming! Great content, man.

Your video essays are just so good dude. Keep it up please

A true work of art

This movie is a masterpiece.

The film is most realistic in the sense that it does not require the audience to feel what the character is feeling i.e. loss and trauma. Instead it politely requests consideration for the character's grief and seeks shelter in the minds of the viewers. From my experience this is the standard process of handling grief in our society especially regarding someone's death.

Love the Sopranos reference at 5:43. Amazing videos!

thank you for making this. it is so true that sadness will shoot you in the back in a way only it can.

Very underrated film.

Excellent commentary on a remarkable movie. Casey Affleck was amazing.

One of my favourites...

Whoever made this is awesome. Really awesome.

This film is going to withstand time as one of the greatest masterpieces of early twenty-first century cinema. Future generations of students and cinephiles will study it.

Only watched this and the ok soda vid (so far) but I'm blown away. this is really high quality stuff

Great video. Glad you're getting more recognition nowadays

Great video. I love this movie, and the way you analyze it is on point. Subscribed!

I have been alive for a while and this is the only movie to make me cry, the police station scene specifically.

The best performance in history of cinema.

Lovely, insightful commentary. Thanks for posting.

Thomas Flight this is fantastic. I"ve just binged watched your videos. Keep it up man

I’m obsessed with this movie.

Casey was born for this role.

Man you should make movies too , please share if you've made any , you understand the true essence of what Cinema offers as a diverse area of artistic expression.

This movie was beautiful

lovely essay

This video was as good as the movie. Thanks for making it dude. It matters so much for me.

Great analysis mate

I watch this often. In this scene it's unfeeling of her to bring the baby and the new husband. Am I the only one who sees that? I love this movie, watching Casey act, is like watching a musician play an instrument. The cut scene in the cemetery was a lil unfair to Michele she is amazing in that scene, trembling with anguish.

Excellant analysis even I was feeling difficult to digest the kind of grief is shown because we are not used to it.. actually we are not used to actual grief in movies.

I just lost my grandmother two hours ago, to aspiration pneumonia. It was a sudden, quick death, one that was so swift we did not expect it to come. She was drinking coffee, and then all of a sudden she had trouble breathing. I rushed by her side, desperately called my uncle (who was a doctor), and he drove us to the nearest hospital. When it came for the big news, I had a few sobs. I had to deal with rescheduling my job interview afterwards, but when it hit me that our last conversation was her wishing me luck for that interview, I sobbed like a fucking baby. You're right, grief shows in many forms. I am currently grieving by playing Call of Duty, and then watching videos like these, and then proceed to crying again. Then, I had to think about my job interview which was rescheduled four days from now. Grief doesn't choose when to come. Grief is just... there. Thank you for Manchester by the Sea. I haven't watched the whole film but this video essay made me want to watch it now.

Excellent video :) good analysis & straightforward explanations. Thank you!

Unbelievable video

hey I just discovered your channel, and its absolutely amazing, love your video essays. thank you

sounds like im gonna watch it someday.. really good

Very well examined. Thank you for your insights!

Simply magnificent

Thanks for this analysis ❤

My dad was 27 when he lost his dad 40 years ago. He never properly grieved at the time. His grief has been an intermittent burden for his entire life since.

Who I first saw this it drove me FUCKING NUTS. No emotion tears at a funeral. But now I know why.

nice.. very nice.. the exact review of Manchester by the sea.. great work maan..

Please allow me to share my best friend's story with you, not to compare her experience with anyone else's, but to help you find true peace, comfort and hope. God bless you! Family Story Little did our family of six know that Friday evening, September 24th, 2021, would be the last night our family would be complete. We laughed together, played games, sang, and enjoyed listening as our 16-year-old son, Ethan, played the piano for us. I packed a lunch for Ethan for a church mountain hike he was going on the following day. My mother (who was visiting from out of state) and I woke early with Ethan on Saturday morning. He hugged me and smiled, never pulling away or rushing me. He got in the car, waved, said he'd see me later and he loved me. It was hard to watch my "new driver" heading out on his own that morning. As Ethan pulled out of the gate, I turned to my mother and said, "It's just so hard letting go." Little did I know how much "letting go" I was really doing. That was the last time I saw Ethan. He did not make it home that evening. That afternoon, a friend tried to contact my husband, leaving an urgent message to call him back. He tried several times to return the call to no avail. As we were preparing supper, an overwhelming feeling of deep concern for Ethan filled my heart. I quietly blinked back tears. I glanced out the window, half expecting to see a police officer pull up to the house, but no one arrived. However, within a few minutes, a patrol car DID pull into the driveway. In my heart, I feared the worst. My husband and I went out to meet the officer, who confirmed our fears. Hesitantly, he told us our son had fallen off of a bluff and had succumbed to his injuries. Our hearts were crushed; they still are. Yet, in all of our brokenness, deep, continual grief and loneliness, our family has such a blessed Hope and assurance that we will see our dear son and brother again. You see, when Ethan was a young boy, he was saved; he put his faith in Jesus alone to forgive his sins and to take him to Heaven when he died. He realized some very important truths from the Bible that he would want to share with you. His Story Everyone is a sinner. Sin is any violation of God’s Law. God is holy, just and righteous, and He cannot allow sin in His presence. Ethan realized that he - like all of us - had sinned; and his sin separated Him from God. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ” (Romans 3:23) “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12) He understood that, because of his sin, he deserved to spend eternity in Hell. “For the wages of sin is death;” (Romans 6:23a) [Wages: price] “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8) Ethan believed that Jesus, God’s Son, paid the price for all sin when He died on the cross - because His sinless sacrifice was the only thing that could satisfy the just demands of a righteous, holy God. Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb, but He arose the third day, triumphant over sin, death, and Hell. Jesus is alive today! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) Ethan was sorry for his sin, repented (turned), and received by faith the free gift that God offered to him. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) “...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23b) Because of this great salvation, Ethan lived his life serving Jesus. He worked hard to spread this Good News to the world. He is alive in Heaven with Jesus today; and because of this great HOPE in Christ, we know we will see him again soon - not because he was a great kid, but because of his faith in the great Saviour! “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28) Your Story What about you? What if you had fallen to your death that day - What if you were to die today? Where will you spend eternity - Heaven or the Lake of Fire? There will not be any parties in the Lake of Fire. It is a place of eternal torment for those who reject God's Son. The Word of God is very clear that there is only One Way to Heaven. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6) We did not know that Ethan would step into eternity that day; however, because he put his faith in Jesus alone for his salvation, Ethan was ready to go. Some day - perhaps today - you will take your last breath here on earth, and you will step into eternity. Where you spend eternity is determined by what you do with Jesus Christ. Will you accept Him or reject Him? You are not promised another day or another breath. Eternity begins soon - Are you ready? “...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved…” (Acts 16:31b) “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) “(...behold, now is the day of salvation.)” (2 Corinthians 6:2c) ****************************** This testimony has been made into a tract form as well, so if you or your church are interested in having them to pass out, please go to libertyfaith.net and you will find our contact info there. God bless! Tribute to Ethan Lakey ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-EhobcQZ6Qb8.html

As someone who feels that I have a landfill of a fucked up past and people I miss, this movie fucked me up.

this is one of my favorite movies.

Can you please suggest me more realistic giref movies? I have watched Ryan Gosling enough.

Did Louie CK write the script? Just watched it for the 1st time, and it felt almost like watching Louie in FX.

A film for grown-ups. Very mature and realistic. Amazing.

One of my favorite films