FILM REVIEW: THE FRIEND
In cinemas across Australia from 31 July 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Poignant Tale of Grief, Healing and the Unexpected Bonds That Save Us
Adapted from the National Book Award-winning novel by Sigrid Nunez, The Friend is a tender, emotionally intelligent drama brought to life by filmmakers Scott McGehee and David Siegel (Montana Story, What Maisie Knew). Shot over 35 days in New York in early 2024—with scenes unfolding across Manhattan’s West Village and the north shore of Long Island—the film is a gentle reflection on grief, healing, and the quiet relationships that hold us together when the world feels like it’s falling apart.
At the centre is Iris, played with grace and vulnerability by Naomi Watts. A solitary New York writer reeling from the sudden suicide of her mentor and dearest friend Walter (Bill Murray), Iris is left not only with his literary legacy but also with an unlikely inheritance—his enormous, grieving Great Dane, Apollo.
Bringing Apollo into her tiny rent-controlled apartment (where dogs are strictly forbidden) throws Iris’s already fragile life into disarray. But as the days pass, a surprising kinship forms. Apollo’s soulful presence becomes a mirror to her sorrow and a quiet comfort she didn’t know she needed.
Far from a sentimental dog tale, The Friend gives us a deeply felt story that is as much about human connection as it is about the unspoken bond between a woman and her dog. Bing, the Harlequin Great Dane discovered after an extensive nationwide search, delivers a performance that is surprisingly moving. His stillness and expressiveness create an emotional centre that resonates throughout the film.
The chemistry between Watts and Murray is subtle and haunting, portrayed mostly through flashbacks and internal dialogue. Murray, ever the master of understated emotion, gives Walter a presence that lingers long after his character’s physical departure. The supporting cast—including Sarah Pidgeon, Constance Wu, Ann Dowd, Noma Dumezweni, and Owen Teague—adds rich emotional layers to the world Iris inhabits.
The film is beautifully paced and elegantly shot, capturing the intellectual quiet of New York’s literary culture while also embracing the disorder that grief inevitably brings. As Naomi Watts’ character quotes Walter in the film, “Embrace disorder”—a line that feels especially relevant in today’s unpredictable world.
Whether or not you’re a dog lover, The Friend offers something deeper. It’s a story of unexpected love, of opening your heart to what—and who—you least expect. As producer Mike Spreter reflects, “It ends in a very hopeful place. It’s a movie you want to live inside of and hopefully learn from.”
Watts herself says she hopes audiences leave feeling “soothed.” And that’s exactly what this film does—it doesn’t shy away from sorrow but guides you gently through it, with warmth, compassion, and the healing power of companionship.
A quietly powerful story, The Friend is a film that lingers long after the credits roll, reminding us that even in the midst of loss, love can take on new shapes—and sometimes has four legs.
– Reviewed by Caroline Russo
