The Blackwater Lightship

I saw 'The Blackwater Lightship' originally on the Hallmark Playhouse on television..complete with numerous commercials! I loved the film so I bought the DVD from Hallmark...minus commercials...what a treat...the film doesn't play like usual TV movies...with a 'hanger' right before the commercial to hold your interest and get one to return to the film after the commercial.

This film plays smoothly as one piece....not fragmented and spotty like most TV films.

The cast is magnificent....the sublime Angela Lansbury playing the Irish granny...Diane Wiest as the daughter of GRanny, and with several actors who were unfamiliar to me.

However two actors I am familiar with are Sam Robards (have to see more of his work) and Brian F. O' Bryan (I know I didn't get this name correctly, but he is currently collecting all the awards on Broadway this season for his superb work in 'Doubt') They are exceptional as two gay friends of Wiest's son who is dying of Aids.

With an Irish seaside setting (the Blackwater Lightship) and superb character transformations...this is a film I recommend unhesitatingly.

Although a bit of weepy, well done, particularly Angela Landsbury's performance. I grew up in Ireland and I was completely convinced that she was an Irish actress for the first half hour before I realized that this was the amazing Ms. Landsbury. This is a heartwarming story of the reconciliation of three generations of women come together because of the terminal illness of the 30yr old grandson.

A Hallmark Hall of Fame production, this one is about AIDs. Need I say more? Lots of flashbacks, this film is well done and worth your time, which is more than I can say about alot of rubbish out there today. Shot on the banks of Ireland somewhere, I forgot the location but a roadsign early in the film does say where, this is a film about forgiveness, or at least understanding. A mother looses her spouse to cancer and her mother keeps the fact away from a daughter and son to spare them grief. Instead, it promotes life long grief. The daughter is more mother to the brother than the mother is. Lots of bickering and hate in this one. But if you want good acting, good plot and plenty of nice gay men taking care of the brother, watch this, you will not go away mad or disappointed. Two elbows up for Blackwater Lightship. James Welch Henderson Arkansas 4/17/2021.

The Blackwater Lightship is a rare television treat. Having read the book i was spectacle to view this production. However this film is rare as it exceeds the brilliance of the book. Acting legend and Oscar winner Dianne Wiest is the bravest performer in the film. Her character Lily is cold yet for Wiest to portray this from her usual loving characters is extraordinary. You feel a closer bond with Dianne's character than any other. Angela Lansbury gives the funniest performance as Dora, the mad grandmother. A true treat to see her. Gina McKee however has the support of the audience in battling with her mother and grandmother and loosing her brother to AIDS. Its rare to see the portrayal of three women who has loose connections with one another to be shown in such a sentimental and loving way. A true classic! The three generations of actresses are magnificent and this film will be viewed as a brilliant portrayal of the affects AIDS has on a family.

This made for TV Film had a wonderful cast of actors, fantastic photography of the coast line of Ireland with its quaint cottages and lighthouse. Keith McErlean (Declan),"At Death's Door",'99 became sick with AIDS and his family came to his aid along with his faithful loving men friends. His mother, Dianne Wiest,"I am Sam",'02 and grandmother, Angela Lansbury (Dora),"Gaslight",'44", along with his sister found out he was gay and did not realize how deeply he was loved. Coping with the AIDS in the family magically drew all the immediate family together and they came to terms with their great misunderstanding of each other. Old and Young a like had a great learning experience and were able to accept the FEELINGS they all deeply shared with its other. Words cannot describe the great message this film had to offer along with the great physical suffering AIDS can cause to the human body. If you missed this picture, view it the next time it is shown on TV!!