Magpie Funeral

Magpie Funeral is a little gem of a film. It's the story of a man who loses his close friend in a car accident. He meets a young widow, and her daughter at the cemetery, and they develop a close, if unlikely friendship. When a misunderstanding unfolds around a project she's been working on, their friendship is put to the test.

Although death and loss are a big part of the story, Magpie Funeral is a funny, touching film -- never a downer. It has great performances by Darren Burrows and Meredith Shank as the lead characters, and Elizabeth Leach does a wonderful turn as the daughter.

Other standouts include David Weisenberg who plays an obnoxious boss and Mario DiDonato plays a very funny literary agent.

This is a wonderful indie movie, with a heart.

Magpie Funeral draws you in with appealing characters who grapple with life and death issues, yet the tone of the film is far from maudlin. A study in the power of friendship and perseverance, the three lead actors, Darren Burrows, Meredith Shank, and Elizabeth Leach give stellar performances. It is heartwarming to see Darren Burrows who portrays the main character of Sy so well, and keep an eye on young Elizabeth Leach, who stole my heart. The soundtrack is particularly moving, and the cinematography is very creative. This film is thought provoking and at times humorous and a great choice for family entertainment!

I am not a writer or in the film industry. Admittedly I chose this film when I learned Darren was in it. I was/am a huge Northern Exposure film and in 2025 some of the actors gathered for a weekly episode. My interest in those actors drove me to seek more recent work and voila - found this little gem. I love the film. No CGI, no superheroes, no childish themes, and conversely nothing offensive to gentle souls. The acting is strong, amusing when it should be, and warm throughout. The story is original and thoughtfully written. I took me a few minutes to catch on at the beginning but that speaks more to my short attention span. You will miss so many nuances if you multitask. Even though so many films allow that process. The way that death, grief, nature, etc. Were handled was heartfelt without being cliche. One other note.... I watched it before I read the reviews. That is what prompted me to write one of my own. I noticed that many, many people (or maybe a handful of lazy nuts) placed a downward thumb on all of the reviews. Taking the time to do that without writing a review, and there are no negative reviews, speaks volumes about you and your lack of ability to communicate with other humans. I assume you are the same ones who rated the film with 1, 2, 3, etc. Stars.

I thought the characters brought the film story together beautifully. The start of the film confused me a little, but it didn't take long for it all to come together. The actors were great and the production and script held my attention. Darren Burrows and Meredith Shank had very believable performances. For being so young, Elizabeth Leach did a great job acting. I recognized the actress Katherine Norland from the DharMann videos! David Weisenberg played the man you love to hate. The film was filmed and edited well. The scenery was spectacular! A film I would recommend and watch again and again.

Saw this movie in Boise last month and what a beautiful story. A breath of fresh air. What a meaningful story! If you've lost anyone close to you then you know what this feels like...There is love, spark, humor and giddiness which is why I call this a breath of fresh air. Excellent job! Actors were great and Greg Green is awesome! Don't miss this Indie Film. Greg Green doesn't disappoint. If you want to see another movie of his "Three of a Kind" is also a good one. Lots of twists in this one. There is suspense, drama and an awesome story as well. These Directors and Actors deserve recognition as there hard work some times can never be measured!