La decisión

Greetings again from the darkness. Even though death is imminent for each of us, we don't all get the opportunity to say goodbye to loved ones. For those who do, it may not go as smoothly as they'd imagined. This is especially true if they are choosing to end things on their own terms due to a terminal illness. Roger Michell (NOTTING HILL, 1999; VENUS, 2006) directs this remake of the 2014 Danish film SILENT HEART (directed by Bille August), both written by Christian Torpe.

Family matriarch Lily (Oscar winner Susan Sarandon) has a terminal illness, and has arranged for the family to return home for one final get-together. See, Lily, with the assistance of her doting doctor husband Paul (Sam Neill) is planning to 'go' on her own terms, while it's still physically possible for her to take the medicinal potion. "Death with dignity", or euthanasia, is becoming a more frequent topic in films and conversation, despite still being illegal in most states. Of course, the legal and moral questions are heavily debated, but when it's a family member, it's the emotions that heat up.

First to arrive is eldest daughter Jennifer (Oscar winner Kate Winslet) and her husband Michael (Rainn Wilson, "The Office") and their son Jonathan (Anson Boon, CRAWL). Kate is the uptight, demanding type who is always judging others - including her nerdy well-meaning husband, and her free-spirited son. The younger daughter Anna (Mia Wasikowska) arrives with her partner Chris (Bex Taylor-Klaus, "The Killing"), and it's immediately clear that Jennifer and Anna are personality opposites (with some baggage), and that Anna is carrying an unspoken burden. Last to arrive is long-time family friend Liz (Lindsay Duncan), who is so close to Lily and Paul, that the family photographs show her on many family vacations and events over the years.

This has the look and feel of a stage presentation, as most of the scenes are filled with dialogue and occur within the confines of the stunning east coast home, apparently designed by Lily. There is a family walk along the beach and dunes, but most of the run time is filled with interpersonal interactions - some pleasant, some not pleasant at all. In fact, an early (by a couple of months) Christmas family dinner is sprinkled with pot smoking and emotional outbursts. It turns out, not surprisingly, that some of the secrets previously kept, find their way out into the open causing a few bumps in Lily's farewell weekend.

The complexities of family dynamics are amplified in this situation. Who is ready and who isn't, and why, becomes a topic of multiple discussions. We never really learn the meaning of the film's title, but we do enjoy the work of so many fine actors. You might recall Susan Sarandon played a dying woman more than 20 years ago in STEPMOM (1998), and this movie blends two memorable and recent films: FRANKIE with Isabelle Huppert, and HERE AWHILE with Anna Camp. Saying goodbye is never easy, but it sure beats missing the chance.

Do you remember Susan Sarandon in the movie Stepmom with Julia Roberts? After all these years I still tear up during certain scenes. That never happened here. Not even almost! I actually think I dosed off for a minute somewhere in the middle of it. It felt like they just had to fill in some open space just to finally get to the departure. I wouldn't watch it again and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else.

This film is really really powerful. I watched it for the stellar cast, not knowing what it was about. I was already in tears half way through the film. It is very well made as well.

I like to respect opinions, but for the past years, I've seen a lot of "purists" rating a movie with 1,2,3 stars just because "the original" was better... Sometimes it's a justified oppinion, (The Grudge, for example) but this is starting to be a trend, not an exception.

Personal opinion, for the ones who care: it's a good movie, a somewhat fresh subject and good for spending a Saturday night in front of the TV, wondering what would you do if you where in anyone of the character's shoes.

Cliché? Yes. American take? Yes. Enjoyable? Of course! Let's be honest... How many times did a Shakespeare play (original or adapted) had an opening night? In that case, would you go to the theatre? Yes? No?... Just curious 😏

Perhaps it's because I just walked this journey... twice in the last 3 years, but I find this to be VERY true to life at telling how family systems relate internally to death and dying. I could see the personalities of each individual, feel their truths as their pain was revealed. This is a funny movie, a movie that will piss you off; it will warm your heart, surprise you and finally, it will make you cry and smile. It's DEFINITELY worth seeing, and with someone you love, and alone, and then again.