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September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Falling (2020 film)

Falling is a 2020 drama film written and directed by Viggo Mortensen in his feature directorial debut.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Falling is a 2020 drama written and directed by Viggo Mortensen in his feature directorial debut. It follows a son struggling to care for his ageing father as dementia reignites long-standing family tensions.

Overview and cast

The film stars Viggo Mortensen as John Peterson, Lance Henriksen as his father Willis, Terry Chen as John’s partner Eric, and Laura Linney in a supporting role. Mortensen also directed and wrote the screenplay. The story is set mainly in California and on the father’s farm.

Plot summary

John Peterson lives in California with his partner and their daughter. When his father Willis, who holds conservative views and is in the early stages of dementia, comes to live with them, the family must confront old resentments and differing worldviews.

Reception and themes

Falling premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 31, 2020, and had a Canadian release through Mongrel Media on February 5, 2021. It received generally favourable reviews: 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and 66/100 on Metacritic. The R rating reflects crude sexual references, brief sexuality, language, nudity, and offensive slurs.

In short

  • Viggo Mortensen’s feature directorial debut.
  • Centres on a father-son relationship strained by dementia and unresolved conflict.
  • Premiered at Sundance in January 2020; released in Canada February 2021.
  • Generally favourable critical reception despite some repetitive structure.
Canadian angle

The film had a Canadian release through Mongrel Media on February 5, 2021, according to the cited release information.[5]

Quick questions

Who is in the cast of Falling (2020)?
The main cast includes Viggo Mortensen, Lance Henriksen, Terry Chen, Laura Linney, Sverrir Gudnason, and Hannah Gross.
What is Falling (2020) about?
It follows John Peterson, who brings his ageing father Willis to California as Willis’s dementia worsens, leading to conflict over family history, care, and identity.
What is the rating of Falling (2020)?
The film is rated R, with reasons including crude sexual references, brief sexuality, language, nudity, and offensive slurs.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falling_(2020_film)
    Supports: Basic synopsis, director, cast, premiere, and review scores.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/falling_2020
    Supports: Plot summary, rating, runtime, genre, and key cast.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9143112/
    Supports: Story premise and cast information.
  4. YouTube (HanWay Films trailer) — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvE0ReOrPn0
    Supports: Starring list and story premise.
  5. Wikipedia (Spanish) — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falling_(pel%C3%ADcula_de_2020)
    Supports: Release dates in the UK, US, and Canada.