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July 27, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Film

Manchester by the Sea

Manchester by the Sea is a 2016 American drama film written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan.

Updated July 27, 20261 min readCited sources

Manchester by the Sea is a 2016 American drama film about a grieving man who becomes guardian to his teenage nephew after his brother's death. It is known for its raw portrayal of grief, guilt, and family responsibility.

What it is

Written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, the film stars Casey Affleck as Lee Chandler, a Boston handyman who returns to his coastal Massachusetts hometown after his brother's death. There, he is named guardian of his nephew Patrick (Lucas Hedges) and must confront a traumatic past. The cast also includes Michelle Williams and Kyle Chandler.

Key details

The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2016 and had a U.S. theatrical release later that year. It runs 2 hours and 17 minutes. Casey Affleck won the Academy Award for Best Actor, and Kenneth Lonergan won for Best Original Screenplay. The story is set in Manchester-by-the-Sea and nearby Boston.

Why it matters

Manchester by the Sea was widely praised for its performances and honest depiction of loss. It received multiple Academy Award nominations and is considered a standout drama of the 2010s. The film was distributed in Canada as part of the international release cycle for major English-language awards films.

In short

  • A grieving man becomes guardian of his teenage nephew after his brother's death.
  • Written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan; won Oscars for Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay.
  • Set in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts; released in 2016.
Canadian angle

The film was widely distributed and reviewed in Canada as part of the international release cycle for major English-language awards films, but it has no specific Canadian setting or Canadian production identity in the sources provided.

Quick questions

What is Manchester by the Sea about?
It follows Lee Chandler, who returns to his hometown after his brother's death and becomes guardian of his nephew while facing a painful past.
Who stars in the film?
The main cast includes Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, and Lucas Hedges.
What awards did it win?
It won the Academy Award for Best Actor (Casey Affleck) and Best Original Screenplay (Kenneth Lonergan).

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_by_the_Sea_(film)
    Supports: Director, writers, cast, themes, budget, worldwide gross, and general film overview.
  2. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/manchester_by_the_sea
    Supports: Synopsis, runtime, genre, release date, and setting.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4034228/
    Supports: Release year and general film identification.
  4. Roadside Attractions — https://roadsideattractions.com/filmography/manchester-by-the-sea/
    Supports: Synopsis, release timing, cast, and awards claims.
  5. RogerEbert.com — https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/manchester-by-the-sea-2016
    Supports: Critical interpretation of the film's themes and tone.