Parents' Guide to Goodbye June

In her directorial debut, Winslet proves herself a steady and tender hand at the helm of deeply emotional material, which marks another impressive debut—from her screenwriter son Joe Anders. That there's a strong family tie behind the scenes bolsters the impact of Goodbye June, which is a heart-wrenching study of a fractured family pulled together in the most trying of circumstances. Resentments, jealousy, and dysfunctional roles that have gone unresolved since childhood all play a part in a dance of avoidance and confrontation that sends the characters into their own personal spirals as their mother quietly declines in front of them. Mirren gives a powerful but understated performance as June, a woman trying to put on a brave face through her emotional and physical pain. She doesn't complain, but her frailty is evident in every wince of the face, and every labored gesture, yet the wise and playful twinkle in her eye never goes dull. The rest of the cast are equally impressive, and quite the ensemble to behold—packed with Oscar, BAFTA, and Emmy winners and nominees including Spall, Riseborough, Colette, and Winslet (who acts as well as directs), and a standout performance from Fisayo Akinade as the caring nurse pulling the strings in the background. Though it's set around Christmas, this isn't feel-good festive fare, but it is a moving and hopeful film that will likely resonate strongly as families gather for the holidays.