Blackbird 2019

     Lily is dying and by the end of this weekend she will be dead.  She suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and is planning to pursue euthanasia with the help of her doctor husband Paul.  They invite her family and her longtime best friend Liz to the house so they can spend her final days together.  There's tension between her daughters, the uptight Jennifer and the wayward Anna.  This threatens to destroy Lily’s perfectly laid-out plans?

     Both of Lily’s daughters confront their mother about her decision.  They wonder if their Dad is using too much influence on Lily and could he be wrong about her life expectancy?  Blackbird is an English-language remake of the 2014 Danish film Silent Heart directed by Bille August, produced by Jasper Morthors, starring Ghia Nerby and written by Christian Torpe.  It follows a family gathering to celebrate a terminally ill woman's life before her soon to be assisted death.  

     Starring Susan Sarandon is Lily, the ill woman, Sam Neill is her husband, Kate Winslet and Mia Wasikowska are her daughters.  It's an intimate family drama that deals with mature and complex themes. There's a lot of wine drinking and a couple of scenes of marijuana use (including by a teen) but it's all part of the dying woman's wishes.  There is strong language, three different couples kiss and one couple has a funny love scene (the man's bare back is visible before the camera cuts away).  Families who watch together will be able to discuss their views about assisted dying, advanced directives, the importance of being truthful and loving with family and friends.  5* (I liked this movie)

97 min, Drama directed by Roger Michell and written by Christian Torpe with Sam Neill, Susan Sarandon, Anson Boon, Kate Winslet, Rain Wilson, Lindsay Duncan, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Mia Wasikowska.

Note:  Imdb 6.4* out of 10* with 1603 reviews, Rotten tomatoes 60% with 88 critics, Metacritic 53 out of 100 with 18 critic reviews 6.8 out of 10 with 4 ratings, Common Sense Media Sandie Angulo Chen, 3* out of 5*, age 15+, 1* violence, 2* sex, 3* positive messages, role models, 4* language, drinking, drugs & smoking.

 
Special Note:  Diane Keaton was in initial negotiations to star but Susan Sarandon was cast.  Sarandon also played a terminally ill mother preparing her children, ex-husband and his new fiancé prior to her death.  The title was Stepmom 1998 with Julia Roberts and Ed Harris.