In a tender and quietly powerful film, The Friend, Academy Award nominee Naomi Watts stars as Iris, a solitary writer and professor in New York City, who unexpectedly inherits a 150-pound Great Dane named Apollo following the suicide of her mentor and friend, Walter — portrayed in haunting flashbacks by Bill Murray.
The film, an adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s National Book Award-winning novel, is directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel (What Maisie Knew), and brings together emotional depth, subtle humor, and a fresh perspective on grief, particularly the often-overlooked sorrow of losing a close friend.
A Grief Story Told Through a Dog
Living in a 500-square-foot rent-controlled apartment in Manhattan — already a dream for many New Yorkers — Iris finds herself in a painful dilemma: her building doesn’t allow dogs, not even ones as gentle and mournful as Apollo. For Iris, who is not a self-proclaimed dog lover and has no intention of becoming one, the unexpected responsibility collides with the loss of a man who meant more to her than she ever realized.
Walter, a charismatic and controversial writer, died a literary legend with a complicated past — multiple marriages, a grown daughter (Sarah Pidgeon), and an unresolved misconduct accusation. He left no plan for Apollo, but perhaps he did: “Iris was the plan,” as the film subtly reveals, though he never told her.
Apollo, found by Walter as a stray in Central Park, becomes the physical embodiment of grief in the film. The Great Dane mourns in silence — sitting listlessly on Iris’s bed or destroying furniture in frustration. Together, Iris and Apollo navigate the aftermath of Walter’s death, struggling with both logistical reality and emotional wreckage.
Watts and Murray Deliver Quiet Power
Naomi Watts delivers a restrained and graceful performance as Iris, a woman content in her solitude and unbothered by social conventions. “She’s the most radical of female characters, even — depressingly — in 2025: a single woman of a certain age and no ambition to be anything else,” the review notes, and Watts embodies that with nuance and dignity.
Murray, appearing mostly in flashbacks, fully inhabits the role of Walter — a flawed literary icon with undeniable charm. As the film unfolds, Iris is left to reassess not only the man he was but also the nature of their friendship, which included a brief romantic connection. Their bond was, as the film suggests, “his deepest,” though complicated by unspoken truths.
Subtle and Emotionally True
While The Friend avoids the cliches of “dog movies” and resists easy humor, it does stretch its runtime — clocking in at 123 minutes. However, McGehee and Siegel handle the story with such care that the film remains compelling. They focus on the emotional journey of two unlikely companions — a grieving woman and a grieving dog — forming a bond that gives each a path forward.
The result is a moving portrait of friendship, loss, and quiet resilience. As the review puts it, The Friend is “one of those movies people complain they don’t make anymore… smart, emotionally authentic stories about people who seem real.”
The Friend, a Bleecker Street release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association for “a sexual reference and language.” Running time: 123 minutes. Now in limited release and in theaters nationwide Friday.
Rating: ★★★ out of 4
Paraluman P. Funtanilla
Paraluman P. Funtanilla is Tutubi News Magazine's Marketing Specialist and is a Contributing Editor. She finished her degree in Communication Arts in De La Salle Lipa. She has worked as a Digital Marketer for start-up businesses and small business spaces for the past two years. She has earned certificates from Coursera on Brand Management: Aligning Business Brand and Behavior and Viral Marketing and How to Craft Contagious Content. She also worked with Asia Express Romania TV Show.
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