While there are movies that explore heartache and grief, Manchester by the Sea manages to explore it in such an intense set of layers, that it is good that the story is fictional - one man surely does not deserve that much bad luck. But more than grief, it also explores the intractability of a community that is just not able to forgive - even when it is a mistake - something that comes up again and again with released prisoners who have served their time. It is slow and sad - but somewhat surprisingly a great cinematic experience.
