Goodbye June

What it’s about

As Christmas approaches, June's adult children gather after news that her condition has worsened. Their difficult father is also present, and old tensions surface while the family prepares for loss. June, however, wants to leave on her own terms—with laughter, love, and frankness.

What hooks you

Kate Winslet makes her directorial debut with this drama, and Helen Mirren plays June, a woman who remains sharp and spirited despite her illness. The script was written by Joe Anders when he was 19, drawing on the death of his own grandmother from ovarian cancer; he completed it during screenwriting courses in the UK. Winslet was initially attached as a producer and to play Julia, but then decided she wanted to direct the film herself. Mirren, who usually avoids roles involving cancer or dementia, accepted the part because she liked the screenplay so much.

Who it’s for

It suits viewers who appreciate family dramas where difficult emotions are met with warmth and wit, and those who like stories about facing mortality with dignity and a sense of humour.