Manchester by the Sea
A withdrawn Boston handyman is forced to confront devastating guilt when his brother’s death makes him responsible for the teenage nephew and hometown he abandoned.
Overview
A haunting exploration of grief and responsibility unfolds in a small New England town.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- melancholic
- brooding
- intimate
- quiet evening
- reflective viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded Kenneth Lonergan's carefully structured, deeply affecting drama as a universally acclaimed work of grounded writing, direction, and acting.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Lee's return home after Joe's death brings grief, guilt, and the practical demands of guardianship into sustained conflict.
The film's present-day family crisis is continually shaped by the tragedy Lee carries from his former life in Manchester.
Flashbacks interrupt Lee's return and guardianship story, progressively exposing why he is withdrawn and resistant to renewed family ties.
Lonergan's screenplay and the performances by Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges, and Michelle Williams emphasize awkward pauses, dry exchanges, and suppressed feeling.
Films like Manchester by the Sea, and why
You Can Count on Me
quiet, emotionally devastating family drama centered on grief, guilt, and difficult human connection
Rabbit Hole
grounded contemporary drama about bereavement, emotional repression, and fragile family bonds
The Descendants
melancholic, intimate character drama examining loss, parental responsibility, and damaged relationships
In the Bedroom
naturalistic American drama pairing subdued humor with unresolved grief and family dysfunction
Movie Details
- Director
- Kenneth Lonergan
- Release Date
- 2016-11-17
- Runtime
- 138 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (6592)
Cast
- Casey Affleck
- Lucas Hedges
- Michelle Williams
- Kyle Chandler
- C.J. Wilson
- Gretchen Mol
- Matthew Broderick
- Anna Baryshnikov
- Heather Burns
- Ivy O'Brien
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Manchester by the Sea about?
- A withdrawn Boston handyman is forced to confront devastating guilt when his brother’s death makes him responsible for the teenage nephew and hometown he abandoned.
- What is Manchester by the Sea like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Manchester by the Sea as measured, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Manchester by the Sea violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Manchester by the Sea as mild.
- What did critics think of Manchester by the Sea?
- Critics broadly regarded Kenneth Lonergan's carefully structured, deeply affecting drama as a universally acclaimed work of grounded writing, direction, and acting.
- Which films are like Manchester by the Sea?
- Films with a similar feel include You Can Count on Me, Rabbit Hole, The Descendants, and In the Bedroom.
- How long is Manchester by the Sea?
- Manchester by the Sea runs 138 minutes.
- Where can I watch Manchester by the Sea?
- In United States, Manchester by the Sea streams on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
