What would your life be without you?
Howard Wakefield (Bryan Cranston) is a successful New York litigator and a suburban family man. He and Diana Wakefield (Jennifer Garner) have been married for fifteen years. Their relationship has declined into petty jealousies and resentments. The couple is only half-aware of feeling disengaged and unfulfilled.
One evening, Howard takes a strange detour from family life: He vanishes without a trace. Hidden in the attic of his carriage house garage, surviving by scavenging at night, Howard secretly observes the lives of his wife and children and neighbors.
As he watches his wife and kids and colleagues deal with his unexplained disappearance, Howard slowly awakens to a new longing, and he becomes adept at hiding, only steps away from the lives of his oblivious family.
Over the next several months, solely through keeping this vigil, Howard begins to close the emotional chasm between his family and himself. His feelings toward his daughters and Diana become tender again.
“Wakefield” becomes a fraught meditation on marriage and identity, as Howard slowly realizes that he has not in fact left his family, he has left himself.
Critics and audiences are raving about “Wakefield”.
“A tour de force of touching gravity and aching humanism. It’s astounding to watch, and an award-caliber performance from Bryan Cranston.” — Rolling Stone
“Beautifully cinematic. A moody meditation on modern living and surveillance. Cranston is simply remarkable.” — Associated Press
“A brilliant adaptation of E.L. Doctorow, with a performance of enormous depth and sensitivity by Bryan Cranston.” — New York Observer