Starring: Javier Bardem, Salma Hayek, Elle Fanning, Dimitri Andreas
Director: Sally Potter
Release date: 11th Sept 2020
Leo (Javier Bardem) is not well. He is in bed and it soon becomes apparent that all is not as it should be. His daughter, Molly (Elle Fanning) has come to spend the day with him and take him to a variety of appointments across the city including the dentist and optometrist. In his mind, he is transported to parallel times in his life.. spending time with his ex-wife, Dolores (Salma Hayek) and also to some time spent in Greece.
Molly is really struggling with her dad.. his dementia is making life hard for everyone, including himself. After the two appointments, Molly decides to stay with Leo but he manages to slip out during the night, wearing only his pyjamas and dressing gown.
Where is he going?
Javier Bardem plays a role unlike many we’ve seen him play in the past, but it just felt like the story meandered a bit and never really went anywhere. With a cast this strong and a subject as fragile as dementia, I hoped that the relationship between Leo and Molly would have a bit more depth to it and gone somewhere, but even Leo’s ‘mind ramblings’ didn’t really lead anywhere. Perhaps it’s more about the journey taken?
Maybe it’s just me and other people are seeing things that I’m not. It’s said that Chris Rock was initially going to be in the movie but for some reason wasn’t. Wonder what he would have added to the story..
Go and give ‘The Roads Not Taken’ a watch and see what you think. Maybe you’ll see something I didn’t.
Overall: 6/10
