BLACKBIRD

BLACKBIRD

Rating: M   (Mature themes, drug use and coarse language)
Duration: 97 mins
Director: Roger Michell
Cast: Sam Neill, Susan Sarandon, Anson Boon
Genre: Drama

 

Lily, a spirited woman in her late 60s, is preparing for a weekend with her husband, Paul, and their visiting children. Despite her impaired mobility, Lily insists on fending for herself. The couple are hoping for a lovely day, but the mood is clearly strained when their guests begin to arrive at their country home. First is daughter Jennifer, who comes with her husband, Michael, and their 15-year-old son, Jonathan. Lily and Paul’s friend Elisabeth arrives, as does younger daughter Anna and her on-and-off partner Chris. Rebellious Anna has been elusive and out of contact with the family, a fact that clearly angers her elder sister. As the weekend continues, old wounds come to the surface, driving some family members apart and others together. With both daughters increasingly conflicted about their mother’s plan, Lily’s hopes of a peaceful farewell appear to be under threat.

“The big plus her is a perfectly chosen cast beginning with Sarandon, who seems doggedly determined to keep it real, physically, emotionally and mentally, even in the trying circumstances for Lily”Deadline

“Once upon a time, film festivals were made for projects like Blackbird; tearful, elegantly shot dramas whose subject matter and starry cast seem almost genetically engineered for prestige platforms and eventual prizes”Entertainment Weekly

“[Michell is] a sort of master at dinner scenes, and the one that anchors Blackbird is breathtaking”Chicago Tribune.

Official Trailer