Manchester by the Sea2016

I know this is the third highest rated film here in Letterboxd, but I dislike Casey Affleck's character. First off, I want to clear this before I start, I don't hate this movie. The only thing that bothered me was -why can't he friggin' stay? I know going back to Manchester reminds him of painful memories, but I just wish he made a different decision. Thankfully, there is Patrick (played by Lucas Hedges, who look and sounds like a young Matt Damon) and that astounding scene with Michelle Williams, and the operatic score by Lesley Barber. I don't mean to be a little harsh but I think that's what sadness does to people. It would amount to days of self-reflection for me to just take and absorb this tragedy all together. I know, I know that reality is a cruel mistress because it breaks you apart and leaves an open wound that would take years before it can completely mend, but it's too much to bear. But I think that's the whole point that Lonergan was trying to make - that when you suffer from a great loss - as much as possible, the people who is at the center of the experience will do everything to avoid talking about their grief and would prefer to escape some place where nobody knows them. This is Lonergan's take on modern-day tragedy, almost Shakespearean in scale, but I will revisit this movie once (I'm ready) or have recovered from the melodrama just like Lee Chandler.