Goodbye June

June collapses early one morning and is rushed to hospital. Her son and two of her daughters are given the news that her health has taken a turn for the worse. Eldest daughter Helen arrives, and the siblings' deep problems quickly surface.

Most companies have the idea that Christmas films should be uplifting, heartwarming or fun. Not Netflix. Their idea of a Christmas film is a family feud at the bedside of a woman in hospital.

I didn't love it, but I did like it. For many, it'll perhaps be a little too close to home. It's reflective, almost painful, but there are some humorous moments and realistic elements too. Grief does strange things - fear and guilt can make people selfish and cruel, often forgetting the person at the centre of events.

The script is very good, with natural dialogue and interactions. June is very ill, but still sharp and full of plain speaking. Connor is adorable, a caring, sweet-natured son who's always there. I could easily have locked Molly in the operating theatre. Johnny Flynn is at his best, and fair play to Andrea Riseborough too - so good.

Helen Mirren - what can you say? Only a few months ago she was cracking murders in 'The Thursday Murder Club', looking amazing. Here she presents an entirely different character, and her acting is on another level.

I loved the scene where Jules and Molly finally have to confront one another, and the ending naturally had me in tears. Winslet, Spall, Colette - all on point. You have to credit the casting director for such a strong ensemble.

Nice to see a positive presentation of the NHS. I'm not sure Hallmark will be pinching this formula for its syrupy Christmas films next year. Perhaps it would have been better suited to a random Saturday in August.

Sad, quiet, reflective - a Christmas film very much unlike any other.

8/10.

Goodbye June - a quiet, moving watch

This film had been on my list for a while, so on one of those in-between, no-man's-land days between Christmas and New Year felt like the perfect time to watch it. I'd listened to several podcasts with Kate Winslet talking about her directorial debut, and, well, it's Kate Winslet. A deeply loved actor with an impressive backlog of brilliant work.

This one didn't disappoint.

It's beautifully directed, with themes most of us can relate to and empathise with. There's humour alongside sadness, kindness alongside raw, unfiltered moments - life, really.

One scene in particular stayed with me: her sitting on the floor outside her mother's hospital room with her brother, completely wiped out, hungry, trying to hold it together for her toddler son asleep on her, while quietly battling her own deep sadness. That moment really got me - probably because it felt so painfully familiar and human.

A gentle, honest film that lingers long after the credits roll. Great performances by all involved.

Well done to Kate Winslet on a strong directorial debut. And of course her acting was just right, restrained and yet as always, generous, so that you connect with the character. Really good performances from a stellar cast. And how Kate Winslet directed those kids was a feat in itself. I think the script was ok, I had a flashback of Finding Neverland where the children put on a show for the terminally ill character played by Winslet. None- the-less there are so many terrible xmas movies around that this was worth watching. I look forward to seeing more of Winslet'a directing. PS the editing was really good - a snotty journalist likened the film to an extended John Lewis advert - well, their editing is impeccable too.

That's the question you have to ask because on paper this should be a hit. Superb actors, very good direction from Kate Winslet in a style reminiscent of Mike Leigh but sadly this one stumbles and falls flat because of the script.

The characters are either tropey or just under developed, thinly drawn, and/or largely unlikeable. The family feels contrived lacking credibility but it's the nhs hospital that takes the award for most contrived - an nhs hospital unlike any in existence as written by someone who has clearly only experienced the privilege of private healthcare!

And maybe that privilege is the biggest issue. Just because you can write a screenplay it doesn't mean it should get made and if this hadn't been written by the son of Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes then let's be honest, it would never have seen the light of day.

It's not even the first time Winslet's given her kids a leg up. We had to suffer through her daughter's mediocre performance in C4's middle class handwringing drama 'I Am Ruth'. Let's hope this is the end of Winslet offspring riding off their mom's success. Clearly the talent stopped with Kate.

Exceptional performances of very relatable characters. It's a beautiful depiction of the relentless quest of a mother to unite her family! Laughter and tears will flow, but thankfully in equal enough measure not to be exhausting. This is not the sort of film that will keep you guessing, but neither is it a cliché, rather it delivers a well balanced emotional reality. Highly recommend.