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The Friend

TIFF 2019: Gala Presentations & Special Presentations

Original title: The Friend
Year: 2019
Country: United States
Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Screenwriter: Brad Ingelsby
Music: Rob Simonsen (Songs: Led Zeppelin)
Cinematography: Joe Anderson
Cast: Gwendoline Christie, Dakota Johnson, Jason Segel, Casey Affleck, Cherry Jones, Reed Diamond, Ahna O'Reilly, Azita Ghanizada, Violet McGraw, Michael Papajohn, Isabella Kai Rice, Marielle Scott, Ritchie Montgomery, Chandler Head, T.C. Matherne, Jennifer Pierce Mathus, Denée Benton, Gerald Brodin, Jeronimo Spinx, Sampley Barinaga, Mike Lutz, Sameer Ali Khan, Rebecca Chulew, Bennett Wayne Dean Sr., Doris Dean, Vanessa Padla
Producer: Black Bear Pictures / STX International / Scott Free Productions. Distributed by Film & TV House / GEM Entertainment
Genre: Drama | Disease. Friendship
Synopsis / Plot: After learning that his terminally ill wife has six months to live, a man welcomes the support of his best friend who moves into their home to help out. His impact on the whole family is much greater than anyone could have imagined.

Critics' reviews

"A disingenuous tearjerker"

Peter Debruge: Variety
"'The Friend' is successfully anchored by its three leading players (...) The sensitivity of these performances offers a reckoning on sincere friendship and the limits of devotion that remains with the viewer"

Ella Kemp: The Playlist
"Overlaying the drama with the false cheer of lively music and bouts of humor, the story feels out of touch with the very emotions it desperately tries to evoke"

Deborah Young: The Hollywood Reporter
"[A] beautifully acted but frustratingly told adaptation of a true story"

David Ehrlich: IndieWire
"A tasteful, respectful and thoughtful film about what it means to be a true friend in the darkest of times"

Fionnuala Halligan: Screendaily
"For a film about such a devastating topic (...) there’s not the stinging sadness that we expect to arrive, and it’s not through lack of trying (...) Rating: ★★ (out of five)"

Benjamin Lee: The Guardian

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