Parents' Guide to Last Weekend

LAST WEEKEND is easy to dismiss -- it's an indie film about rich white people and their problems. And it takes a while to become invested in these self-centered characters and their self-absorbed mother, who seems far more concerned with her perfect house, antique collectibles, and table settings than the actual problems her children are going through.

But as it goes on there are some strong undercurrents that begin to emerge, helped by the beautiful setting and cinematography and Patricia Clarkson in the lead. Here is a woman reconciling the final chapter in her life, her role as a mother, her feelings about whether she's left a good legacy behind, or what it even means to be a good person. There are scenes that touch upon the socioeconomic divide and the ignorant cruelties the wealthy often inflict on those around them, but in the end, the story is really a universal one about growing older and the meaning of family. There is strong language and some very mature scenes that feature masturbating, casual drinking, and some near-deaths that make this film too heavy for kids and young teens.