‘Blackbird’ Review: Susan Sarandon's role of terminally ill mom is brilliant as drama tugs at your heartstrings
Roger Michell’s ‘Blackbird’, which is a remake of the 2014 Danish drama ‘Silent Heart’ by August Bille, tells more than just the story of a dying mother, the insufferable mental and physical pain that comes with the terminal illness ALS and her family’s reluctance to allow her to take her own life. Starring an ensemble cast, the drama runs high on tearjerking emotions and dialogues, thus making for one brilliant watch. Besides being overly dramatic, which has, in this case, worked quite well for the actors and the film by itself, the script for ‘Blackbird’ also makes one question their mortality while offering a different perception to life and death.
It has Susan Sarandon as Lily, the terminally ill matriarch who has chosen to end her own life as she couldn’t live with the thought of being fed via tubes and seeking assistance from her loved ones every time she needs to even move. Her beloved husband and doctor, Paul, is essayed by Sam Neill. While he isn’t willing to let his wife go yet, he bases his decision on logic and agrees with her choice for he isn’t willing to see her die a painful death. Lily has two daughters, Jennifer and Anna. Kate Winslet’s character Jennifer comes across as an uptight mother to her son Jonathan and mommy’s pet, who always prefers things her way. Meanwhile, her husband Michael plays by Rainn Wilson has barely any say in his marriage or at the gathering at his parents-in-law’s. Mia Wasikowska is seen as Anna, Lily’s younger daughter, a lesbian with mental issues.
Lily, all prepared to embrace her death, gathers her entire family and best friend Liz (Lindsay Duncan) to spend the last few days. Even though the family is well-aware of the intention behind the get-together, they are bogged down by a moral dilemma as a few of them continue to question Lily’s choice, but wouldn’t confront her. ‘Blackbird’, unlike other movies that offer multiple takes on euthanasia, establishes at the start itself that the decision had been made. Therefore, it isn’t the potion that is hard to come terms with, but Lily’s decision to do it in the presence of her loved ones.
As said, the story here is simple and clear with no twists or turns that would overturn a patient’s choice to die from euthanasia. But, the film is driven by dialogues and emotions that tug at your heartstrings. One of the most touching moments from the movie is when Lily has a brief, private conversation with her grandson, where she asks about his sexuality and ambitions. Scenes like these all along convince you with their realism and the dialogues that they are paired with bring a lump in your throat. The entire movie is filmed in Lily and Paul’s residence in Hamptons, which sets the right mood for every scene. One of the highlights of ‘Blackbird’ is definitely the Christmas celebration, which Lily insists on having in an offseason before her demise. Even the few of the family members who were caught bickering over the matriarch’s choice to end her own life are brought together in their last supper through laughter, Lily’s special and final presents for her beloved family, which may be a bit too hard to digest.
Even though every actor has equally contributed to making ‘Blackbird’ one of the most beautiful movies of the year, it is Sarandon who takes the center stage. The veteran actress couldn’t have done a better job as a dying mother, who has many life lessons to offer before hers comes to an end. But, there’s something about the manner in which layers are peeled off each character’s persona, which has shown the film in a rather different light.
‘Blackbird’ is slated for Friday, September 18, release across the US.
