By Andrew MorrisTuesday 26 Apr 2016The Big PictureMoviesReading Time: 2 minutes
In A Month of Sundays Frank is a middle-aged real estate agent with good reason to feel remorse. His career is in a slump in the middle of a property boom; his marriage has ended in divorce; and his teenage son rolls his eyes at every attempt to communicate.
Most importantly his mother has died at a stage when he felt most disconnected from her. However his life takes a turn for the better when he answers the phone one night and recognises the voice – mum, back from the grave? Or is it?
RATED: PG for mild themes and course language
AUDIENCE: Definitely one for older audiences, especially people in their 40s and 50s – and their mums!
WHAT’S GOOD: Anthony Lapaglia (Frank) and Julia Blake (not his mum) are pitch perfect on screen, a combination of Mother And Son and Driving Miss Daisy. Their awkwardly begun friendship blossoms into a relationship that helps Frank discover the emotional release that drives the plot. John Clarke is an added bonus with the best of his classic dry wit.
WHAT’S NOT: This is a beautiful film but a slow-paced, thoughtful one. You’ve got to be prepared to relax into it, which makes it a good one for older audiences but not so for the young.
SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING: Audiences will warm to Sarah and Franks story but, even though he learns to get over his mother’s passing, there’s no real indication that he’s actually learnt from the experience – unless it’s the suggestion that the world is still a beautiful place despite its many tragedies. In Frank’s case it’s not so much repentance or even change that takes place as a decision to no longer let the past worry him.
RELEASE DATE: Thursday, April 28