Falling
An estranged son confronts his aging father’s bigotry and decline when retirement brings their painful family history into his queer household.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- confrontational
- melancholic
- intimate
- serious movie night
- reflective evening
What critics said
Critics generally found the central relationship messy, complex, and heartfelt, while noting that the film’s repetition can be taxing.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Willis’s hostility toward John’s sexuality and parenting exposes the long-term emotional consequences of paternal abuse.
Flashbacks portray Willis at different ages and deepen the contrast between John’s present conflict and their shared history.
John’s Southern California home becomes a battleground when Willis visits to discuss retirement and confronts John’s family life.
Willis’s bigotry, aggression, and demands for autonomy are repeatedly opposed by John’s more caring model of fatherhood.
Films like Falling, and why
The Savages
family dysfunction, aging parents, and emotionally abrasive parent child relationships
The Kids Are All Right
lgbtq family life, parental prejudice, and intimate domestic drama
Nebraska
intergenerational conflict, masculinity, and difficult father son reconciliation
Amour
quietly devastating family drama centered on aging, memory, and unresolved resentment
Movie Details
- Director
- Viggo Mortensen
- Release Date
- 2020-10-02
- Runtime
- 112 min
- Rating
- 6.4 / 10 (216)
Cast
- Lance Henriksen
- Viggo Mortensen
- Terry Chen
- Sverrir Gudnason
- Hannah Gross
- Laura Linney
- Carina Battrick
- Ava Kozelj
- Gabby Velis
- Bracken Burns
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Falling about?
- An estranged son confronts his aging father’s bigotry and decline when retirement brings their painful family history into his queer household.
- What is Falling like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Falling as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Falling violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Falling as mild.
- What did critics think of Falling?
- Critics generally found the central relationship messy, complex, and heartfelt, while noting that the film’s repetition can be taxing.
- Which films are like Falling?
- Films with a similar feel include The Savages, The Kids Are All Right, Nebraska, and Amour.
- How long is Falling?
- Falling runs 112 minutes.
- Where can I watch Falling?
- In United States, Falling streams on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Netflix Standard with Ads, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
