Tough love

Actor Viggo Mortensen's directorial debut about looking after a father with dementia is broadly inspired by events in his own life

Viggo Mortensen's first-hand experience with his family history of dementia helped him conceive of the character in his film, Falling.
Viggo Mortensen's first-hand experience with his family history of dementia helped him conceive of the character in his film, Falling. PHOTO: AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

It is possible to break through as an actor at age 80. That seems to have happened to Lance Henriksen.

As Willis, the terrifyingly conservative dad in the family drama Falling, the American actor, best known for playing the android Bishop in science-fiction thriller Aliens (1986), has made critics sit up.

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 03, 2020, with the headline Tough love. Subscribe