Film: Goodbye June

A recognisable cast surrounds Kate Winslet in this British drama about the family surrounding a dying mum, played by Helen Mirren.

The film is less about death, as sad as that makes it, and more about fractured family relations, which is sadder. Only the brother lives at home and, clearly, quietly undertakes the role of constant carer. He is portrayed as a drifter, and yet I wonder if it is the weight of responsibility that has held him back.

It’s a family affair as the screenplay is written by Kate Winslet’s son, who was born THIS CENTURY and yet is already turning out superb work like this, which his mother decided to make her directorial debut.

Kate Winslet brought in Toni Collette and Andrea Riseborough to play her sisters and Johnny Flynn to portray the more reclusive brother. Timothy Spall rounds out the cast as their hapless and helpless father, making the ensemble quite recognisable.

My takeaway is that if all nurses were like the aptly named Nurse Angel, patient and attentive, the world would be a better place. Also, if all nurses had the time he takes to get to know the family and keep an eye on them all, not just his dying patient.

The film apparently had a cinema release, but the actors did a good job of publicising it, leading us to find it on Netflix.

7½/10