Slovakia’s official Oscar submission, Father is one of the most emotionally shattering films I’ve seen this year. Directed by Tereza Nvotová, it’s a slow-burning psychological drama that gradually turns into pure horror — not the kind with monsters, but the kind that comes from real life.
From its very first scenes, the film establishes a mood of unease. The pacing is deliberate, almost suffocating, as if every second of silence carries the weight of what’s to come. Then, with a single phone call, the story breaks open — revealing a truth so painful it feels almost impossible to process. What follows is not just a story of loss, but a descent into emotional collapse.
Nvotová crafts the film with remarkable restraint. She avoids melodrama, instead focusing on the quiet moments that hurt the most — a man’s trembling hand, a blank stare into nothing, a voice cracking under the pressure of unspeakable grief. Every frame is calculated yet deeply alive, creating a sense of realism that’s hard to shake.
It’s tense, devastating, and deeply human. Every scene carries unbearable weight, with the camera trapping you in suffocating spaces where silence feels louder than screams. There are moments when the stillness becomes too much to bear — you want to look away, but you can’t. It’s one of those rare films that leave you shaken long after it ends.
Milan Ondrík gives an extraordinary performance — raw, broken, and unforgettable. He doesn’t act the pain; he lives it. His eyes do most of the talking, conveying despair, confusion, and helplessness all at once. If life were fair, he’d be nominated for Best Actor at the Oscars. Few performances this year have felt so physically and emotionally lived-in.
The cinematography mirrors the character’s state of mind — close, intrusive, and fragmented. The lighting feels natural yet heavy, as if even daylight carries sorrow. The film’s sound design is hauntingly minimal; every echo, every breath feels amplified, like the world itself is mourning.
When life turns its back on you, Father shows what it truly means to lose everything and still try to survive. It’s about how grief erases the line between reality and memory, turning love into obsession and guilt into punishment. Drama and horror merge into one unbearable truth: sometimes, the scariest thing is remembering.
It’s a full 5/5 stars from me on Letterboxd — and I rarely ever give that. Few films hit me this hard or stayed with me this long. Father deserves to be seen, discussed, and honored. It would be a shame if this is not shortlisted.