Edinburgh International Film Festival 2026
Low Down
A heartbreaking story about consent, love and evolving with the change Dementia brings to all.
Review
Many people reckon that The Father (2020) by Florian Zeller is one of the best portrayals of Dementia in a film. After watching Queen at Sea, I reckon that title has been lost. Written and directed by Lance Hammer, the film follows Amanda (Juliette Binoche) on her desperate attempt to help her step father, Martin, understand that he can no longer have sex with her mother, Leslie who has Dementia.
The first shot of the film is a loving old couple, walking up the stairs holding hands. It paints the audience to believe, we are about to see a love story tainted by Dementia, and in a way we do. However Queen at Sea is a lot more harrowing than purely watching someone you love change.
After walking in on Leslie (Anna Calder-Marshall), disassociating in bed while Martin (Tom Courtenay), is on top of her, Amanda panics and calls the police on her step father. She battles with the idea of him being arrested-claiming she just wants to ‘scare’ him. She sees how much her mother loves him and how he understands and supports her. After all, he gave her, her favourite sweet treat, baklava, when she refuses to eat dinner, and knows how to soothe her with her favourite music. We start to forget about Martins crimes and feel sorry for him until we are brought back to this haunting image of Martin and Leslies white bedroom, a peaceful and safe space, becoming a crime scene.
Underlying the story, is a parallel story line regarding Amanda’s teenage daughter. We see her growing affection for a boy at school. Amanda buys her daughter condoms. It’s a juxtaposing image that comes after discussions that Martin raped Leslie. Bringing yet again the discussion of safe sex and to have the right to chose to have sex if both parties are consenting.
The performances from Binoche and Courtenay are heartfelt and incredibly moving. You are with them the entire film, sucked in on every word they say. Anna Calder-Marshall’s performance as Leslie, is heart breaking. She moved me in a soul crushing way. Her still eyes, were eyes I had personally seen in my two late grandfathers.
It’s a highly ambitious film, showing us the realities of living with Dementia alongside those who are caring for those with Dementia. We also see Leslie in a care home environment which, personally stuck out to me, seeing an accurate portrayal of Dementia patients in new environments, desperate for connection with strangers.
At its core, the message is to go along with the change. Don’t fight it. What was once innocent and true, can evolve too. There is a moment where Martin asks Leslie to point at her best friend and she points at him. Those with Dementia may not know who you are, but they know how you make them feel, a sentiment Amanda and myself, struggled with.
