Goodbye June

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I cried from beginning to end, and even cried through the entire credits section. It completely resonated with me; it's a film that perfectly hits my tear ducts. The plot is incredibly fast-paced, with not a single wasted second. The cinematography is beautiful, the emotional expression is delicate, and the story unfolds gently, bringing laughter through the tears. It's definitely a family-friendly film, but it's not boring at all. It doesn't force sentimentality or awkward crying; it's all genuine emotion. (The child actors were completely immersed in their roles because they used their characters' names from the very beginning—that was brilliant!)

The whole film is very satisfying and heartwarming, a comfortable watch. Although it brought me to tears, it was very cathartic. Each character has their own storyline that intertwines with others, all converging on June. She reconciles her seemingly estranged but actually deeply caring sisters, and she asks her husband, who has been escaping reality, to sing her one last song (her hearing is the last thing she hears, so the last sound she hears is her husband's singing). She tells her youngest son, the most reliable and thoughtful among them caught in the middle of everyone's drama, that he can be himself and read his poems aloud, that it's okay, someone will always hear him and understand him. She writes a letter to her youngest daughter's baby, who lacks confidence in being a single mother, telling him how much she wants to watch him grow up… It was only at the very end, with June's letter signed, that I realized this film is June's farewell to her loved ones, not just a goodbye from the family's perspective. In that sense, June's perspective from the hospital bed at the beginning makes perfect sense—it's Goodbye, June = Love, Mom = Love, Grandma = Love, Junie.

I was completely captivated by the Q&A session! I can listen to Kate Winslet talk all day 🥹 She is so charismatic, powerful, knowledgeable, intelligent, eloquent, and has so many merits… How can she be so charismatic yet humble and articulate! She even took photos and signed autographs for fans at the end.

When I first learned that this was her directorial debut and that her son had written the screenplay, I thought, "Let's see how this superstar mom supports her son!" But after watching it, all I can say is, like mother, like son! They're both incredibly talented! And it seems like many of the female staff on the team are also making their debuts in their respective fields. Suddenly, I can truly feel Kate's brilliance—telling women's narratives, from women's perspectives, with women staff/talents.

Throughout the movie, I kept thinking about my grandparents. I wondered if I, as a child, actually regretted not being able to say goodbye properly, and if that regret had stayed with me ever since, becoming a perpetually damp corner in my heart. On my way home after the movie, it started snowing. I suddenly remembered June in her hospital bed, looking at the snowflakes and saying she would become a snowflake watching over her family. Perhaps my grandparents have also become snowflakes, accompanying me home, just like the countless times they saw me off when I was little. Although it was so hard to part, I always had to say goodbye.

Spoilers ahead! Spoilers ahead! Spoilers ahead! I'm saying it three times because it's important. The story is so simple you can guess the ending at a glance, but the actors' performances are nuanced and realistic, making it very relatable. It's about family life, sisterly conflicts, all brought together by the mother's serious illness, ultimately resolving conflicts and reuniting the family. Such a cliché plot. The opening scene shows the family members: a lazy, confused, and physically disabled husband; a timid and anxious youngest son; three middle-aged daughters—one eccentric and living far away; and two with diametrically opposed personalities, long-standing feuds, rarely seeing each other, and burdened by their own families and children. I even felt that if the old mother didn't get sick, who would? It was a headache just watching. The further I watched, the more I saw reflections of my own family in the characters. Joan's dying moments reminded me of my grandmother before her passing. Molly, somewhat neurotic and always wanting to compete, is a bit like my aunt. The capable Julia, and Connor, who hasn't left his parents' home and relies on his sister for support when things go wrong, are a bit like my mother and uncle. Helen, living a carefree life alone without starting a family, is a bit like me (sorry for the generational gap). Even the scenes of sisters struggling to care for their ailing mother resonated with my uncle and aunt. (I'm truly a chosen audience member for this film (ーー;) lol). Having experienced similar situations, I find the scenes of helplessness and sadness while waiting for someone to leave, ultimately accepting reality, very real. The lack of dramatic tears and even the calm demeanor felt genuine. Finally, I understood Joan's love for each member of her family. It was because of blood ties, and because she was a kind, well-regarded wife, mother, and grandmother. Her husband, children, grandchildren—everyone genuinely loved her. Everyone was an ordinary person, with their own temper and life's pressures, yet in the end, they were united by love and family, remaining a loving family. I also appreciate female-centric storytelling, with excellent female directors and actresses. The narrative, centered on mothers, daughters, and sisters, allowed me to empathize with the female characters and overlook any plot shortcomings. The ending was a stroke of genius: the white youngest son got together with the black male nurse who was taking care of Joan—seriously, that was just...unbelievable. This political correctness is truly amazing!

In the movie, Joan's male caregiver said "families" more than once. I think that with his profession, he must have seen countless elderly people pass away, countless family disputes, and countless real faces at the bedside to be able to say this word "families".

yes,families are always families.

As the saying goes, every family has its own troubles, and even an upright official finds it difficult to settle family disputes. The word "family" encompasses so much, especially as the family grows larger and includes family members who are not related by blood, such as sons-in-law and daughters-in-law.

There are problems for the community, compounded by problems for the individual family. What appears glamorous is actually a mess of trivialities. Yet, despite these seemingly trivialities, there are commendable aspects; it's not entirely without merit.

Although the plot of this movie seems clichéd, it's actually quite realistic, so realistic that it shows us that no matter the country, this kind of situation is difficult to navigate. This scenario is constantly playing out in real life.

An outstanding eldest sister who has to shoulder family responsibilities, a neglected and unloved second daughter, a carefree and independent third daughter, and a seemingly down-on-his-luck, impoverished youngest son who still lives with his parents and sponges off them. Oh, and there's also a self-centered old man who only adds to the chaos.

So the goodness of this movie doesn't lie in the script, but in the excellent performances of the actors; every single one of them did.

Another reason I think this movie is great is that I learned some background information about it by listening to some podcasts and interviews before I was accidentally recommended it. I was really looking forward to it, and I didn't expect to watch it so soon.

First of all, this film is Kate's directorial debut, and she truly put a lot of thought into it. From casting to on-set management, she showed great respect for the actors and incorporated her understanding of the art of film into the project. She wanted to convey her values ​​through her film. Ultimately, the final product is just that—the film. The process is far more important. Why make a film, and how to make it—are even more crucial questions.

For example, the children in the film call each other by their real names from the moment they meet, and the younger children don't even realize they're making a movie. For example, she minimizes the presence of cameras in the hospital rooms to allow the actors to express their true emotions. And so on. If you're interested, I suggest watching some of Kate's interviews to hear her thoughts; you'll learn more.

Finally, I want to thank Kate for giving society and us some hope. The hope she conveyed is that no matter how difficult things seem, no matter how irreparable the cracks may appear, family ties and love still exist.

This is Winslet's directorial debut, right? It's already fantastic.

In this subject matter, it's almost impossible to frame it as a story told entirely from one person's first-person perspective. Anyone could adopt that first-person perspective—either of the two daughters (though there are actually three), the son, the mother, the father, or even the male nurse who has a profound understanding of family and life—to tell the story.

Thus, it encompasses everyone's position in society and family, as well as the troubles, entanglements, helplessness, and unfulfilled desires that we have always carried with us, until we reach a certain point in time when we realize that, due to our personalities and the accumulation of inertia, we have missed and lost too much time that can never be regained. But these are the fates that we cannot avoid or escape—because many things can only be understood and comprehended through time.

While watching, I put myself in the shoes of a daughter, and I also happen to have a younger sister. Although we are very, very close, we also have some things that we never talk about with each other.

In relationships with both my mother and father, there are always unresolved conflicts and avoidances stemming from personality differences and generational gaps. No one can change anyone else, no one can convince anyone else; each possesses an independent personality capable of taking charge of their own life. Just like the emotional entanglements and blood ties that have already formed, they won't fundamentally waver or change because of these or the surrounding circumstances. This includes how, every year when we gather, we naturally revert to that unchanging, habitual way of interacting. It can only be said that the turning point in our family hasn't arrived yet. Even while watching, I tried to see or capture in my daughters and sons the similarities and unchanging traits passed down from their parents due to genes and family environment—that bloodline inheritance. If I had to say what's missing, it would probably be this.

Goodbye June. Director Wen gave us a sweet treat at every moment we were about to cry. Although it deals with life and death, the whole film is gentle, resolving small family conflicts and gradually revealing each character. Seeing the most adorable play at the end, June finally closed her eyes with a smile—I cried uncontrollably at that moment. Make lots of memories. Good memories help you live forever. Dedicated to Director Wen, from now on, mentioning you will not only be my favorite actress, but also...