The Friend is an American drama film that beautifully captures many human emotions. Siegel and McGehee directed the film. The film is based on the 2018 novel by Sigrid Nunez. From the directors’ first film, the Suture(1993), to the present emotional sensation Montana Story(2021), the duo have created films more focused on the characters than the film’s plot. This movie is just their iconic signature, with its beautiful, light-hearted approach dealing with many grave themes like Life, Death, Suicide, Friendship, Grief and also whether a giant dog(Apollo) is suitable for a small New York City apartment.
The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2024. It will also be presented at the Toronto International Film Festival 2024 Gala section.
The Friend – Plot
The film starts with the appearance of a writer and teacher named Iris(portrayed by Naomi Watts) and her close friend, the womaniser Walter( Bill Murray). Within a few minutes into the film, Walter dies by suicide. This leaves Iris heartbroken, but soon, she finds herself in trouble when she learns that Walter left his beloved dog- Apollo(played by Bing), into the care and custody of Iris. This is a problem for Iris because her small New York Apartment only allows dogs; thus, Iris juggles between caring for the dog and finding him a new home.
The Friend revolves around Iris’s life as she copes with the grief of losing her close friend Walter and interacts with other characters, such as Elaine( Carla Gugino) and Marjorie(Ann Dowd). However, the central theme and soul of the movie is shown in the beautiful and emotional bond that Iris forms with the Great Dane- Walter’s dog- Apollo.
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A Heartfelt Review- The Friend
This film is about a woman(Iris) who is not equipped to care for a dog, especially a big Great Dane like Apollo, but Iris wishes to honour her friend Walter’s last wishes. Some of the film sequences where Iris can be seen caring about Apollo are an addition to the comedic effect of The Friend. At the same time, the film’s true meaning is the emotion of grief and how that emotion seeps into our bodies and souls, how an irreplaceable loss is not merely a human emotional experience but felt by all creatures.
Iris(Naomi Watts) Best Performance Yet?
Naomi Watts delivers her most terrific performance in this moving drama. Watts is penetrating herself into the character of a woman who feels sheer pain and abandonment. The scene where she pauses to see Walter’s eyeglasses in the same spot that he left is a subtle yet silent scene that portrays a dozen emotions. Her brilliant performance, along with Bing( the dog Apollo), is a treat to watch. In a heartful way, The Friend portrays the budding bond between a human and a canine.
The movie is narrated by Iris’s voiceover. Throughout the film, she describes her memories of Walter. Walter appears in flashback scenes majorly. The character of Walter is seen in limited screen time, but his stunning performance sets the right tone for this film. However, why he committed suicide and left her dog, Apollo, with Iris and not with any of his ex-wives or Wife number three is a mystery. Walter’s Wife, Number Three comments that Walter left his dog with Iris because she lives alone and loves pets but a real explanation is not given. Nor this film is about Walter and his explanation, by the way.
The bond between Iris and Apollo
When Iris accepts Apollo into her apartment and struggles to find him a new home, Apollo gradually becomes hard to depart from. He has beautiful eyes- one blue and one brown. At the film’s start, it seems like Apollo is a conduit for Iris’s grief and pain, but in reality, Apollo is her partner in grief. Their sadness and grief are mirroring into each other as they mourn Walter. Eventually, in The Friend, Iris realizes that she and Apollo share a sense of abandonment among many other emotions.
The emotions are mixed as the film progresses. There is humor with sadness, laughs with grief. Apollo behaves mischievously sometimes, troubling Iris. He is too big for Iris( comes till her chest). He takes over almost all of the bed, leaving Iris with no option other than to sleep on the floor. The emotions are sometimes subtle, coming clearly but silently on the screen. For instance, in a sequence in the film, Apollo becomes attached to a shirt with Walter’s scent on it. It is an empathetic scene with no dialogue but beautifully portrays a thousand emotions.
Apollo(Bing) The Friend Shining Star
It must also be mentioned that Bing, the Great Dane who plays Apollo, the dog, is a shining knight in this film. His emotional, innocent eyes depicting the sheer pain and mournful howls are heartbreaking. His attachment to Walter’s shirt with his scent on it is an overwhelming emotional scene.
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Conclusion
The Friend is a beautiful story of soulful connection between two most unexpected characters. In a heartful way, the film captures the bond between a woman and the dog she never expected to keep with her. This film portrays the deep love and connection that most humans have with their pets. Both Apollo and Iris deal with grief, sadness, and unthinkable pain, which the film portrays poignantly. Through the mutual emotions shared between Iris and Apollo, the film is indeed a sentimental watch. It describes that comforting feeling of being understood by someone around you when one feels that no one understands their grief and sadness.
One thing that happens in the film, which is unclear in the novel, is that Iris will keep Apollo. This ending makes the viewers think that Walter was right when he left Apollo with Iris because Apollo was just what Iris needed to go on without Walter in her life.
