Benedict Cumberbatch Confronts Grief – and a Seven-Foot Crow – in New Film
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The highly acclaimed actor Benedict Cumberbatch takes on a uniquely challenging role in his new film, The Thing With Feathers, a deeply emotional exploration of grief centered around a man grappling with loss and an unusual, imagined companion. The film, arriving in UK and Irish cinemas on November 21, promises a raw and unflinching look at the complexities of bereavement.
A Surreal Exploration of Loss
Cumberbatch, known for his portrayals of iconic characters like Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Strange, describes the project as “a very odd job, there’s no getting away from it.” The premise itself is striking: a grieving father is visited by a seven-foot crow, a manifestation of his pain and a darkly comedic, yet profoundly insightful, presence in his life. While the initial concept might suggest a lighthearted comedy, the film is, at its core, a serious and moving portrayal of loss.
Based on Max Porter’s award-winning 2015 novella, Grief Is The Thing With Feathers, the film delves into the heartbreaking process of navigating life after the sudden death of a spouse. The narrative unfolds through three distinct perspectives: the father, the two young boys, and the crow itself – voiced by David Thewlis – who Porter describes as an “unhinged Freudian therapist.”
The Weight of the Role
Cumberbatch, a father of three, found the emotional toll of the role significant. “I didn’t take it home, I didn’t talk about it,” he explained, emphasizing the need to compartmentalize the intensity of the character’s grief. He acknowledged the demands of balancing such a heavy role with the immediate needs of his own family. “You have to work fast when you’re a father of three with a busy home life…so you don’t go in and talk about your day crying your eyes out on a sofa with a crow punching you in the face.”
The source material has resonated with a growing audience since its publication. Porter attributes this to the universality of grief and the film’s unconventional approach to representing it. He notes that people often experience eccentric reactions to loss, citing the example of his father-in-law who believed his mother’s spirit manifested as a wren. “Grief puts us into these states where we are more attuned to the natural world and particularly more attuned to symbols and signs,” Porter explained.
Tackling Difficult Themes on Screen
Cumberbatch believes it’s crucial to address challenging subjects like grief in cinema. “It is a universal experience, in one way or another you’re ‘gonna lose someone that you love during your life,” he stated. The Thing With Feathers specifically examines grief through a male lens, exploring the pressures and societal expectations placed upon men in the face of loss.
The actor highlighted the relevance of the film’s themes in a contemporary context. “At a time when there’s a lot of very troubling influences on men without female presence in their lives, this thing of scapegoating and seeing the other as a threat…all of that comes into play within the allowance of grief to be a messy, scary, intimidating, chaotic, unruly and out of control place to exist as a man.” He emphasized the film’s message of emotional acceptance, stating, “This is a film that just leans into the idea that it’s alright to have feelings, you bury them or hide them at your peril.”
