It's natural to desire the chance to say farewell when facing death, ideally on one's own schedule. But what occurs when circumstances prevent this? Is it possible to orchestrate those final moments – those profoundly expressed goodbyes referenced in the end-credits song – that we long for? That’s essentially the question posed to a typical London family in Kate Winslet’s first time directing. When June Cheshire (Helen Mirren), the family's mother, experiences complications during her cancer treatment shortly before Christmas—her favorite holiday—she undergoes emergency surgery. Although she survives, her condition remains serious, granting her limited time to organize her affairs and savor what might come next. But someone accustomed to controlling their own destiny finds themselves powerless this time, leaving it to their family to manage things. Despite wanting the best for June, they aren’t necessarily in a good place emotionally to handle such a demanding responsibility. This situation requires everyone to collaborate toward the most positive result possible. Their efforts blend a loving dedication with a difficult and overwhelming task, which places considerable strain on June's husband, Bernie (Timothy Spall), and her four children: Julia (Winslet), Molly (Andrea Riseborough), Helen (Toni Collette), and Connor (Johnny Flynn). They receive support from their partners, children, and an attentive oncology nurse, Angel (Fisayo Akinade), who cares for both the patient and her family. This talented group navigates the story with a certain elegance, genuine feeling, and heartfelt emotion—tissues are recommended. The film's narrative, however, feels somewhat superficial and occasionally relies on familiar tropes. The director works hard to elevate the material, and she largely succeeds in several parts. Nevertheless, an underdeveloped history for the characters, incomplete character arcs, sometimes predictable plot points, and attempts at humor that only sporadically land prevent the movie from reaching its full potential. It’s reassuring to see Winslet demonstrates real ability as a director, and it seems likely she has more to offer in this area. But to truly excel, she'll need stronger material to showcase her abilities. One hopes she gets another chance with a project that better allows her talents to emerge.

Source on TMDB