Benedict Cumberbatch on ‘The Thing With Feathers,’ Being an Advocate: Society Has “a Very Easy Time Sidelining” Those in Need

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At the unveiling of his new movie titled “The Thing With Feathers“, Benedict Cumberbatch is openly discussing topics such as grief, problematic masculinity, and championing for those in distress.

On Tuesday, the renowned British actor addressed the press in Berlin during a conference for his latest movie. Titled “Grief Is the Thing With Feathers“, this film was penned by Dylan Southern based on Max Porter’s book, and it tells the story of a father, played by Cumberbatch, and his two sons (Richard and Henry Boxall) who are grappling with the tragic death of their spouse and mother.

In my opinion, an essential aspect of my work involves delving into complex characters to uncover their human qualities – if they still exist. I believe it’s crucial for us as a society to extend compassion and aid to those who are struggling the most, including both victims and perpetrators of wrongdoing. Sadly, we often overlook or forget about these individuals when they slip through the cracks.

“That’s been a driver of mine, since I was very young,” he added.

The Sherlock and Marvel actor similarly discussed embracing the chance to challenge traditional “alpha male” behavior in the film, focusing instead on portraying male sorrow and the power found in fragility and vulnerability.

Instead of trying to overpower tragedy with even more force, it seems much wiser and stronger to learn from it instead, Cumberbatch suggested. He also pointed out that vulnerability and uncertainty are not typically associated with traditional masculinity, often portrayed as a strong image. Therefore, he was pleased to be part of a narrative that goes against this stereotype.

After praising the stellar performances of the two young Boxall brothers who acted alongside him, Benedict Cumberbatch also shared insights into his personal experience with grief, appearing visibly moved as he talked about aspects of Southern’s directorial debut that struck a chord with him.

In the movie, a brief scene stood out to me: the character was folding their wife’s clothes for the last time, leaving an empty wardrobe behind. At 48 years old, I’ve seen my fair share of life. I’ve felt sorrow, as many people do at my age. It unexpectedly resonated with me on a deep level.

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The scene in the movie where he folded his wife’s clothes for the last time and left an empty wardrobe behind was brief but poignant to me. At 48, I’ve lived quite a bit and experienced loss, like many others my age. It struck a chord with me in a way I didn’t anticipate.

When considering his initial exploration of Porter’s work, inspired by Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope” is the thing with feathers”, Southern expressed to the gathering: “Max’s book provided me with a means to express feelings and behaviors I had. It offered words for some of those emotions and approved of them too.

He added: “At first, it wasn’t clear how this book, with its intricate structure and unique perspectives, could be transformed into a movie. It has three distinct viewpoints, shifts between tenses, and covers several years. However, as I delved deeper, a cinematic form started to take shape. … During the filmmaking process, my aim was for viewers to experience this family’s time period and share their emotions. The book did an exceptional job of this, and as a reader, the movie’s visual narrative became evident to me.

The film titled “The Thing With Feathers” is set to make its debut on a Tuesday evening during the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, taking place from February 13th through the 23rd.

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2025-02-18 19:54