 |
| Released 15 May 2015. |
This film depicts Carol interacting with a trio of friends (Rhea Perlman, June Squibb and Mary Kay Place) as well as her adult daughter, Kath (Malin Akerman).
In between outings, Carol drinks wine poolside in her backyard, thinking about how to structure her day and how to eradicate a roof rat who keeps skittering across the front room of her home.
The tone is quiet and understated with a lilting, poetic quality.
Even though the film's manner is subtle, the audience can tell that Carol is trying to find purpose and companionship in response to the recent loss of her dog and the decades' long loss of her beloved husband.
Carol's friends try to push her to date; however, she's reserved and reticent.
She ends up connecting more organically with a couple of people who cross her path--a twentysomething pool boy (Martin Starr), who shares her love of music and nonconformist views on life; and a gruff but attractive gentleman (Sam Elliott), She bumps into him a few times before they learn each others' names.
While this film might depict some of the common themes of late life, it certainly doesn't address them with glib statements or idealistic outcomes.
Instead, I'll See You in My Dreams provides opportunities for the viewer to mull over the different ways that people can respond to grief, changing roles, shifting relationships, and finding a reason to get out of bed, get dressed, leave the house in order to live in the present.
Related:
This looks delightful! How did I miss it?!
ReplyDeleteIt was only released in a few places when it came out. It was a Sundance film, indie type of a thing. I imagine it only played in big cities in the art houses. I found it on Netflix last night! And I try to keep an eye out for such films. I can't believe it took me this long to find it. Enjoy.
DeleteOh, I want to see this movie, I like the themes you describe.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed it very much. At times I was sad, or I felt awkward about Carol's attempts to connect with others (or her tendency to avoid connecting). But by the end I was moved by the stance the film takes about how we can address the complexities of life (at any age, but for Carol it was late life challenges).
DeleteThese type of movies are always fun but why do they have to have drugs and alcohol to get to the truth?
ReplyDeleteAgreed. I have suspended viewing of Grace & Frankie because Grace drinks to excess and Frankie gets high a lot. I can see that impeding their judgement leads to madcap adventures, but addiction is a serious problem, and to use it as a plot device without addressing the seriousness just bugs me. Nevertheless, this film has great merit.
DeleteI'm so glad to read in your response to Diane's comment that this is on Netflix. It's just the kind of movie, I enjoy. Thanks for sharing about it, Karen. Off to watch!
ReplyDelete