The Wasteland Reviewer

Goodbye June (2025) Written Review

What can be one of the most frustrating elements of growing up? Your family. You (hopefully) have a wonderful family who is supportive and kind with few issues at all. Realistically, you might not all see eye to eye, but you love and support. But since you open yourself up to your family so often, they have the unexpected power to cause such pain and suffering. They also have the power of persuasion and influence. Such a family dynamic is quite unhealthy and can be manipulative. But when an incoming tragedy, like the death of the family’s matriarch, is creeping forward, it is important to get everyone together on the same page. That is the story that director and star Kate Winslet brings to life from a script by her own son, Joe Anders. 

How does Winslet approach Goodbye June from behind the camera? This is not a flashy bit of direction but there is an intimacy that works well for this emotional experience. There are a few interesting camera choices as Winslet captures June (Helen Mirren) embracing her children as she is in a hospital bed. Outside of this, this is quite standard from a technical standpoint. But Winslet gives her actors plenty of space to deliver emotive and affecting performances. That makes sense from an actor-turned-director. The pacing of the film can drag at times but there is at least plenty of emotion in each scene throughout the film. Winslet does struggle a bit with the tone of the film as it does wander a bit too often into melodrama and sappiness when so much of the film does feel raw and impactful. Overall, Winslet does craft a film that will most likely get at least a tear out of you. 

Does the story from Anders match the emotions that Winslet is extracting from the audience? We start the film with a household incident that leads to the realization that June is soon to be dead. Her journey is set and she seems to understand her fate. The film is really about the journey of her four children and her husband as they need to reframe their lives with June’s impeding death changing everything. These five characters each have their own journey, and the film is a little blunt in presenting that in the film. The husband is an insufferable “man” who feels like a stereotype until the film finally gives him some dimensions (even if it doesn’t feel the most earned). Their son, Connor, lives at home and is a wayward soul. His journey to find himself and find genuine connection is one of the most heartwarming elements in the film. The eldest daughter is a free spirit living in America who is unexpectedly pregnant. Once the film gets past her yoga, gems, and incense, you see a woman confronting her impending motherhood and insecurity. The major conflict (that June is forced to help resolve from her death bed) is between two of the daughters. One is a horrible stereotype of an anti-medicine, super organic mother. The other is the most complex and layered of the children with her navigating her sibling dynamics, supporting everyone in her life, and trying to reconnect with her kids (of course this is Winslet’s role). The film delivers some big dramatic moments in the third act that feel satisfying (even a little over-the-top). 

What is the strongest aspect of the whole film? This talented cast brings a lot to the table. Helen Mirren is fantastic as June who sells the suffering and peace of this soul on the verge of death. Timothy Spall is especially abrasive as June’s husband who has some surprising soul to him. Winslet’s performance is subtle and full of emotion which anchors much of the film. Andrea Riseborough is bigger in her acting choices which reinforces the conflict between her and Winslet’s characters. Johnny Flynn captures the vulnerability and pent-up emotion of their son as he navigates this life altering experience with his mother dying. Toni Collette is quirky and committed to her character but that does not take away from some impressively moving emotional beats as well. You have Stephen Merchant who plays Riseborough’s husband, who is hopelessly goofy as he brings some levity into his limited screentime. There are even a few standout child performances along the way as well. 

Is Goodbye June a worthy directorial debut for such a talented actor as Winslet? The film might teeter into melodrama, but this is still a moving and honest look at a family in crisis. There is a moving exploration of death and coming to grips with losing a loved one. This impressive cast does a lot of heavy lifting to make this film stick its landing. This might not get the awards consideration that Netflix hoped for with a December release like this but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a good cry with it at home.