Now and again a film comes along that steps into unfamiliar and testy territory and offers an opportunity to reflect on life. BLACKBIRD is such a film. Well written by Christian Torpe and directed by Roger Michell, the film sports a fine cast and manages to tackle a theme of planned termination of life in a very sensitive manner.
The concept of the plot is rather straightforward: Lily (Susan Sarandon) has ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease) and elects to terminated her life before she becomes unable to function. Her physician husband Paul (Sam Neill) has secured a vial of pentobarbital and Lily is scheduled to drink it to end her life, She invites her family to spend a weekend with her to say goodbye: Her rather rigid daughter Jennifer (Kate Winslet) and husband Michael (Rainn Wilson) and son Jonathan (Anson Boon), her daughter Anna (Mia Wasikowska0 and her lesbian lover Chris (Bex Taylor-Klaus), and her lifelong best friend Liz (Lindsay Duncan). The rather testy congregation allows secrets and conflicts to come forth - sibling rivalry and misunderstandings, relationship differences, responses to Lily's planned exit - and Lily wants a 'Christmas' as her final moments with the family. The Christmas works well until some core facts surface that threaten the wishes of Lily to have a peaceful ending. But Lily manages to assuage all problems and bids her family farewell on her terms. 'Life is all about love - love is everything.'
Susan Sarandon offers a stunning performance worth of the highest awards, and the entire cast is superb. This is a sensitive film on many, many levels - one that deserves a very wide audience, especially in these isolated times when the meaning of family is even more precious.
The concept of the plot is rather straightforward: Lily (Susan Sarandon) has ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, a progressive neurodegenerative disease) and elects to terminated her life before she becomes unable to function. Her physician husband Paul (Sam Neill) has secured a vial of pentobarbital and Lily is scheduled to drink it to end her life, She invites her family to spend a weekend with her to say goodbye: Her rather rigid daughter Jennifer (Kate Winslet) and husband Michael (Rainn Wilson) and son Jonathan (Anson Boon), her daughter Anna (Mia Wasikowska0 and her lesbian lover Chris (Bex Taylor-Klaus), and her lifelong best friend Liz (Lindsay Duncan). The rather testy congregation allows secrets and conflicts to come forth - sibling rivalry and misunderstandings, relationship differences, responses to Lily's planned exit - and Lily wants a 'Christmas' as her final moments with the family. The Christmas works well until some core facts surface that threaten the wishes of Lily to have a peaceful ending. But Lily manages to assuage all problems and bids her family farewell on her terms. 'Life is all about love - love is everything.'
Susan Sarandon offers a stunning performance worth of the highest awards, and the entire cast is superb. This is a sensitive film on many, many levels - one that deserves a very wide audience, especially in these isolated times when the meaning of family is even more precious.