Blackbird

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.

A really movieg film. Some could blame it to be too much "into your face" but it still moved me to the core as it Made me asking how I would handle a situation like that and the more you think about it the more it depresses you. But in a good way as the film's story really challenges you with morality and along with that tells a great story about love and family bonding. The acting is superb. Susan Sarandon finally gets to show in a great huge role again and she really nails it. She adds a lot of sarcasm to it which helps the make her character appealing and convincing, especially considering the struggle she has inside her. Kate Winslet is very calm here and leaves the field for Sarandon. Winslet has some really good moments and built her character well. Mia Wasikowska has the juicier role and is good, too. I loved Sam Neill whose characters tries everything to make the atmosphere positive and hold everything together. Good support by Lindsay Duncan as well. A very intimate film by Roger Michell and a film that deserves much more attention than it received. Yes, it leaves you depressed. And yes it leaves you with a lot of questions but important ones. Really moving and well acted ensemble piece.

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.

Having lived through a similar experience myself, this film does a wonderful job of representing the various facets of a family as the beloved mother comes to the end of her terminal illness. Intensely painfully real. A must see.

In 1981,in "whose life is it anyway? " ,Richard Dreyfuss ,paralysed after a car crash ,asked for the right to die :as he was in a hospital ,it was not easy .

In Europa, some movies about assisted suicide were made in France ("quelques heures de Printemps" )and in Germany (und Morgen Mittag ,bin ich tot" ) but as it is illegal in both countries, death takes place in Switzerland .

It's easier,so to speak ,for Lily whose husband is a doctor ;she wants to die in dignity and not surrounded by machines ; Susan Sarandon is,as always ,admirable ,and she gets strong support from Sam Neill as her devoted husband .The film is a strong plea for a legitimate choice when there' s only more sufferings in sight ,and who can say he's not concerned with such a harrowing problem?

Kate Winslet and Mia Wasikowska ,on the other hand, are given badly written parts ,the umpteenth version of the sisters at odds with each other, the earnest patronizing one and the unhappy person .And one regrets that there are not more intimate scenes between Lily and Paul ;the very brief scene where he cries in the greenhouse means more to me than the sisters' moanings and whinings .Melodrama often gets in the way of a real tragedy.

But the young generation (good scene of the rapper) and sensitive Lindsay Duncan's Liz make up for it .

Anyway ,it's a courageous movie , which people (with a strong heart) must see.