Viver, Amar e Aprender

Who doesn't love Noni Hazelhurst?

Apart from her ex-John Jarratt of course.

She's Australia's favourite mum and the star who literally drives the narrative in "June Again" at the wheel of her dead husbands very cool Gold Valiant Convertible.

This is Kiwi JJ Winlove's major motion picture directorial debut plus he wrote the screenplay...so I can't wait to see what else he'll bring to the big screen in the future.

This movie is all about living and loving again.

Noni's June is in a Nursing Home after a series of strokes left her with dementia.

One fine day she wakes up and is lucid...a state of mind that may only last for a few hours so she takes full advantage and does a runner from the Happy Friday activities at the home to seek out her old life and try to pick up the pieces, but not in an "Average White Band" kind of way.

Only problem is it's five years since she was admitted and a lot has changed in both hers and her offsprings lives.

Her daughter, Ginny, is played by another top flight Aussie actress, Claudia Karvan.

While her son, Devon (which sounds more like cut of deli meat) is "The Castle" star Stephen Curry.

His comic timing is more precise than a Japanese movement watch in every line he delivers effortlessly.

Some other familiar faces flesh out the supporting cast including, the wonderful Darren Gilshenan, last seen on TV's "Harrow", but first came to my attention in the TV comedy "Chandon Pictures" with the award winning Rob Carlton.

So many new movies are dealing beautifully with this insidious disease.

The most famous being "The Father".

"June Again" treats dementia with respect, dignity and humour.

Noni breathes a very real performance into this 99 minute movie that will become an Australian Classic...she truly is superb.

It's a road trip that detours through the threads of the many lives it touches and dementia does touch a lot of lives and delivers a few shocker surprises.

This film will make you laugh, cry and sigh, so it's a winner covering the entertainment fundamentals.

I stumbled across this movie when I flicked on Netflix one night after work and just wanted something on in the background while I caught up on social media. But within moments, the movie had me hooked and I put down the phone and settled in for what turned out to be a great movie! Something a little different from the norm, and probably one of the best Aussie movies I've seen in years, with a top group of iconic Aussie actors, who played very relatable characters. I think I could see a bit of my own family in every one of them. The plot was not glaringly predictable either.

I agree with a review written about the title needing a rethink. It is a brilliant Australian production with excellent cast and script. Apparently it was filmed in 3 weeks! Shows the dedication and professionalism of the australian production team, cast etc.

The story itself is well written & has a unexpected moments that make it even more poignant and meaningful. It is a story about family, life, mistakes made & misunderstandings.

Having had a grandmother pass away from Alzheimer's it is so relatable. Insidious disease that is so hard on the family.

Noni Hazlehurst shines as June and her wit is as always worth a chuckle.

Please go see it take a tissue but tell your friends to go tell everyone to go.

Having seen The Father with Anthony Hopkins, it was with reservations I saw June Again. Another movie about old age and dementia? Am I glad I overcame my reservations.

This film was poignant and believable. Noni Hazlehurst is the rock around which this sad and funny movie is based. Her performance is outstanding and she is ably supported by Claudia Karvan and Stephen Curry. In fact all the cast add to a strong cast that keeps the narrative purring along.

The premise that a woman with vascular dementia 'suddenly' comes good is apparently medically quite sound.

What June does with her short time of lucidity is the crux of the story. Her family have fallen apart and then it's June to the rescue (admittedly not with the support of her children).

The film is heart-warming, sad and funny. The fall back to dementia, though expected is very sad.

As an older person myself, this film is quite hard to watch. Still I am glad I did. Well done to all concerned.

Acting and directing in Australia is in good hands as I can see with this film. The Director avoided the larrikinism that often permeates Australian movies where people find it hard to take serious matters seriously. This larrikinism is often over represented in Australian movies and doesn't always represent the way Australian families and people interact. JJ has created believable characters and directed them very professionally. It was a serious story but fun.

Noni was a brilliant choice and there are few weaknesses in her fine facial expressions and movements and behaviour while afflicted by dementia. Then the transformation- and she shone in that role. We've all seen diminishing intellect in our loved ones.

Stephen's Devon was captivating - he really is a great actor. And Claudia held it all together with a fine balance between optimism, desperation and just dealing with stuff. The supporting cast were well cast. Sure the story was a bit cheesy but the handling of the plot had enough twists to carry it through. I laughed at Devon's backyard with the lawn. Very clever. Only a very good team could do this -,well done.