Biting into an apple can be sour, sweet, and filling, and biting into the movie “Manchester By The Sea” can all of the same. For the holiday season, this is one apple that’s worth biting into.

After the death of his brother, Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) must temporarily relocate back to his hometown of Manchester-by-the-Sea after he is named the guardian to his 16 year-old nephew(Lucas Hedges). Lee must then confront his troubled past which led him away to Boston several years before.

The emotional gravity that surrounds each scene is intense, and the characters’ ability to be inarticulate make it only easier for the audience to believe the actors. Affleck’s acting ability shine through onto the screen and into the eyes of the audience. Each character’s past and motivations are different yet intriguing, and unravel together into a storyline mixed with flashbacks.

The writing uses the modern vernacular to create a realistic group of characters. Each line of dialogue can be immensely funny, callously entertaining, or a profound statement about a character’s life.

The cinematography is able to accurately portray the gray, cold, and overcast weather of the New England area, while making each scene pop into life with vivid and contrasting color against the gray.

The movie is heavily influenced by the themes of sibling love, female accountability, and the ability to forgive and forget. The director and screenwriter, Kenneth Lonergan, has created a mesmerizing existential film that questions the mind and dazzles the heart.