This movie has a lot of heart. Technically a 2015 film, but didn't get a North American release until 2016. It's one of those difficult yet uplifting movies about what happens when a good friend gets diagnosed with terminal cancer and you decide to spend a few days with them. How does that go? Do you go and live the good life, making the most out of every moment? Or are you actually going to face what's to come and help your friend deal with decisions that no one should ever have to make. Or are those days made up of some sort of weird mix of the two?
I'm a bit of a crier and as much as this movie deals with some REALLY heavy subject matter, it never created any waterworks. Got close once or twice with that dog, when he leaves it for the first time, but i was actually laughing more than I thought I would. It's a really well written movie.
Look, this movie is going to speak to some people, less to others, and for a select unlucky few it's going to hit us like a freight train. My favourite uncle just got hit with some lung cancer after surviving colon cancer not long ago. Eerily close to this story, and I have much more trouble dealing with it than the main protagonist (who just happens to live in the same city as me).
It's not a big cast, but both male leads (the two friends) deliver perfect performances. You really feel some of these moments. And those feelings aren't of sadness, guilt or anything like that, but of just true friendship. It's a really unique take on this type of movie.
Highly recommended.
Heart rating: 5 stars (NO ONE will dislike this movie)
Brain rating: 4 stars