Manchester by the Sea (2016) is a deeply emotional drama about loss, guilt, and the fragile path toward healing. Written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, and featuring an Oscar-winning performance by Casey Affleck, the film captures quiet tragedy with raw honesty and realism.
Do you remember every powerful moment, devastating twist, and quiet character beat? Take our 10-question trivia challenge and test how well you know this unforgettable masterpiece.
Manchester by the Sea Trivia Questions & Answers
Here are the correct answers and detailed explanations for all ten questions from our Manchester by the Sea trivia challenge — a film that explores grief with profound emotional depth and quiet power:
1) Who plays the lead character, Lee Chandler, in Manchester by the Sea (2016)?
Correct Answer: Casey Affleck
Casey Affleck delivers a haunting and restrained performance as Lee Chandler, a man emotionally paralyzed by past trauma. His portrayal earned him widespread acclaim for its subtlety and rawness — culminating in an Academy Award for Best Actor.
2) What is Lee Chandler’s profession at the beginning of the film?
Correct Answer: Janitor
When we meet Lee, he’s working as a janitor and handyman in Boston, living a solitary and emotionally numb life. His routine existence is disrupted when he receives news of his brother’s death — forcing him to return to the town he once fled.
3) Why does Lee return to Manchester-by-the-Sea?
Correct Answer: His brother dies
Lee is called back to his hometown after the sudden death of his brother, Joe Chandler. This event forces him to confront painful memories and unresolved grief tied to his past life in Manchester-by-the-Sea.
4) Who plays Joe Chandler, Lee’s brother?
Correct Answer: Kyle Chandler
Kyle Chandler plays Joe, whose death sets the story in motion. Though seen mostly in flashbacks, Joe is portrayed as a caring brother and father — someone who tried to support Lee through unspeakable tragedy.
5) What unexpected responsibility does Lee inherit?
Correct Answer: Guardianship of his nephew
In his will, Joe names Lee as the legal guardian of his teenage son, Patrick. Lee’s struggle with this responsibility forms the heart of the film — he wants to do right by his nephew, but feels emotionally incapable of caring for anyone.
6) Which actor plays Patrick, Lee’s teenage nephew?
Correct Answer: Lucas Hedges
Lucas Hedges gives a breakout performance as Patrick — a spirited, sarcastic teen dealing with his father’s death. His chemistry with Casey Affleck creates moments of warmth and humor that contrast the film’s heavier themes.
7) What traumatic event is revealed from Lee’s past?
Correct Answer: The accidental death of his children
The film’s emotional core is the revelation that Lee accidentally caused a fire that killed his three young children. The guilt and grief from this tragedy are what destroyed his marriage and led him to exile himself emotionally and physically.
8) What is the name of Lee’s ex-wife?
Correct Answer: Randi
Randi, played by Michelle Williams, is Lee’s ex-wife. Their brief but devastating scene together later in the film is a masterclass in emotional restraint, with both characters struggling to communicate through their shared sorrow and loss.
9) What award did Casey Affleck win for his performance?
Correct Answer: Academy Award for Best Actor
Casey Affleck won the Oscar for Best Actor for his deeply internalized and believable portrayal of Lee. His performance was widely praised for avoiding melodrama and instead channeling quiet devastation and stoic pain.
10) What is a central theme of Manchester by the Sea?
Correct Answer: Grief and emotional isolation
The film is an intimate study of how people deal — or fail to deal — with unimaginable loss. It refuses easy resolutions, focusing instead on the quiet, ongoing struggle of living with grief. It’s not about overcoming pain, but learning how to carry it.
