Nearly two decades ago, Kate Winslet starred in a holiday classic with her role in Nancy Meyers‘ seasonal rom-com, The Holiday. Now, with her new holiday film and her directorial debut, Goodbye June, Winslet brings the same sensibility and poise that she’s exuded as an actor to her work behind the camera. She doesn’t opt for overly dramatic sequences and gotcha moments, but rather pulls on viewers’ heartstrings with organic interactions and camerawork that operates like a fly on the wall. Goodbye June is an intimate depiction of a family preparing to bid farewell to their matriarch during what’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. The film serves as a reminder that the holidays aren’t always merry, and that sentiments like loss and grief can also prevail when the festivities are in full swing.
What Is ‘Goodbye June’ About?
Goodbye June opens with Connor (Johnny Flynn) getting woken up by a tea kettle’s whistling sound, only to find his mother, June (Helen Mirren), lying on the kitchen floor unresponsive. As the ambulance arrives and takes her to the hospital, Connor notifies all of his siblings of their mother’s health scare. Julia (Winslet) and Molly (Andrea Riseborough) rush to meet him in the hospital waiting room, while Helen (Toni Collette) makes last-minute flight arrangements to reunite with her family. Although June makes it out of surgery and is in recovery, the doctors pull Julia, Molly, Connor, and their father (Timothy Spall) aside to let them know that the matriarch will likely not be alive for Christmas. This devastating news rocks them to the core, with them already wondering what would be the best course of action in the face of a potential loss. Yet, June already had plans of her own for what she wanted her final days to look like.
Hooked to a machine and lying in a hospital bed, June isn’t fearful of her fate, but wants to ensure that her adult children will be able to move on without her. As her son and daughters coordinate visiting schedules and spend every waking moment by June’s side, it becomes clear that the latter’s main goal is to repair Julia and Molly’s broken relationship, relay any advice she can to Helen about motherhood, and release Connor from the weight of being a caregiver.
‘Goodbye June’ Is Anchored By A Stellar Ensemble
A family drama like this is heavily informed by casting. After all, it’s important that there is chemistry between the family members, so that when petty arguments or emotional exchanges occur, they feel authentic as opposed to fabricated. Thankfully, Goodbye June‘s ensemble lands the mark, with no outlier in sight. Winslet and Riseborough accurately portray the shattered bond between Julia and Molly. Even though the two sisters harbor a lot of love for each other, they avoid being in the same room and even have opposite schedules to visit their mother in the hospital. The moment in which they finally admit what made them resent each other is one of the most poignant instances in the film. Johnny Flynn is charming as Connor, June’s only son and the most closed off of the family. Still, he shows how much he cares for his mother by never leaving her side.
A Family Is United by Tragedy in Emotional First Trailer for Kate Winslet’s Directorial Debut ‘Goodbye June’
Winslet’s son, Joe Anders, penned the script for the heartfelt feature coming this Christmas.
Toni Collette is underutilized here as Helen, June’s wellness-oriented daughter who happens to be expecting her first child. Although her charisma shines through the few scenes that she is in, it would’ve been nice to have her character more prominently featured. As for Timothy Spall, it’s easy to assume that he is playing a father who has lost touch with reality, unable to grasp the gravity of the situation his family is undergoing. Yet, in the latter half of the film, he has a surprising turnaround that will likely bring audiences to tears. Nevertheless, the real deal here is by far Helen Mirren. The Academy Award-winner was reportedly not interested in the role because she avoids playing characters who are dying. She was so moved by the script that she made an exception. Mirren not only agreed to embody the titular matriarch, but made her a woman whose bold personality and unrelenting love for her children transpired even more so than her deteriorating health condition. June never loses her sense of humor, even requesting that her daughter apply some mascara to her eyelashes so that she can look presentable on her deathbed.
Winslet’s Film Is a Touching Look at Family Dynamics and Holiday Blues
What makes Winslet’s filmmaking debut even more effective is its script. What originated as one of her son’s assignments for a screenwriting class became a touching look at family dynamics within the context of the holidays. Joe Anders’ writing is filled with lines that hold deeper meanings, such as when June asks Julia how her sister is doing, and she simply replies, “We are cooking Christmas lunch together.” Although it might not seem like much, this quote speaks volumes about Julia and Molly’s eventual rekindling without having to state the obvious. These subtleties within the script make the film more captivating, stepping away from the clichés that are heavily associated with Christmas films. Each character here has a distinct voice and way to handle the potential loss of a loved one, so viewers will instantly feel empathy for them. The film also furthers the notion that getting together during tough times is just as important as reuniting to unwrap gifts and celebrate the end-of-year festivities.
Overall, Goodbye June proves Winslet is just as talented onscreen as she is calling the shots, bringing a raw approach to this already emotionally-driven story. Through her thoughtful direction, the ensemble is able to deliver a convincing portrayal of a dysfunctional yet loving family dealing with potential loss and precocious grief. An instant tearjerker with comedic undertones, this might be the next holiday classic people will want to revisit over and over. It might not be the rom-com that made Winslet a holiday staple, but it is a film that reminds viewers of the value of family during both merry occasions and trying times.
Goodbye June comes to select theaters on December 12 and will be available to stream on Netflix starting December 24.
- Release Date
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December 12, 2025
- Director
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Kate Winslet
- Writers
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Joe Anders
- Producers
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Kate Winslet, Kate Solomon, Tina Pawlik
- Winslet focuses on organic sequences, as opposed to overly dramatic ones.
- The film is anchored by a stellar performances by the entire ensemble, with Helen Mirren being the standout.
- The script incorporates subtleties that add a deeper meaning to the characters’ dialogue.
- Winslet’s directorial debut reminds viewers of the importance of family during trying times.
- Goodbye June could’ve used more of Toni Collette.
