Male grief
Benedict Cumberbatch: role in the new film is the most personal
In “The Thing with Feathers” the actor plays a father who reaches his limits after the loss of his wife.
British actor Benedict Cumberbatch (“Doctor Strange”) ventures into new emotional territory with his new film “The Thing with Feathers”. “I love challenges,” Cumberbatch (48) told the German Press Agency before the premiere of the drama at the Sundance Festival in Park City (Utah). Director Dylan Southern’s film tells the story of a father who, after the sudden death of his wife, tries to raise his two sons and reaches his limits.
Cumberbatch described the role as his most personal. “To be honest, this character is as close to me as any I’ve played. The middle class, the father, life in north-west London – it all felt very real.” He was particularly drawn to the depiction of male grief: “I haven’t seen many stories that do that.”
The film, which will also screen at the Berlinale in February, also uses elements of horror to explore the surreal nature of loss and grief. “I think it will appeal to people who have been through that kind of searing pain where everything around you changes,” Cumberbatch said. It was a challenge for him to tell this complex story, but that was exactly what appealed to him.
dpa
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
