Teenager (Nico Parker) lives with her strong-willed mother (Laura Linney), who must take her brother (Cree Kawa) to live at a specialized facility. While trying to grieve and look after her brother, she is also trying to live.
I love this film. Linney and Parker are fabulous together, exploring how to live your life when faced with impending death of a loved one. Although it's not stated, they are dealing with grief before the death instead of after. This leads to turmoil between them as Doris (Parker) tries to enjoy teen moments, make friends, find a boyfriend, go to prom, and do all the things teens do that mark the stages of their lives.
Yet she must also be ready -as Paul (Woody Harrelson) warns her- for grief and regret to come crashing in when her brother finally dies.
Some say this is a coming of age film and there is an element of that but it is so much more: it's about recognising priorities, recognising true friends, and seeing your own responsibilities to others as well as them to you.
It's beautifully done, it's a film I'd probably watch again too, for the nuances.
I love this film. Linney and Parker are fabulous together, exploring how to live your life when faced with impending death of a loved one. Although it's not stated, they are dealing with grief before the death instead of after. This leads to turmoil between them as Doris (Parker) tries to enjoy teen moments, make friends, find a boyfriend, go to prom, and do all the things teens do that mark the stages of their lives.
Yet she must also be ready -as Paul (Woody Harrelson) warns her- for grief and regret to come crashing in when her brother finally dies.
Some say this is a coming of age film and there is an element of that but it is so much more: it's about recognising priorities, recognising true friends, and seeing your own responsibilities to others as well as them to you.
It's beautifully done, it's a film I'd probably watch again too, for the nuances.