Goodbye June Review: Kate Winslet's Directorial Debut

“Kate Winslet makes a solid directorial debut. Goodbye June is a quietly devastating and yet tender film about a dysfunctional family facing imminent loss.”

Goodbye June is Kate Winslet’s directorial debut, in which she also stars with Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, Stephen Merchant, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, and Helen Mirren. The film releases on Netflix on Christmas Eve.

A QUIETLY DEVASTATING FILM

Goodbye June follows a family just before Christmas as their mother’s health takes a turn for the worse. The story navigates a dysfunctional family facing imminent death. The father, Bernie (Timothy Spall), doesn’t seem concerned with what’s going on, while two of the daughters, Molly (Andrea Riseborough) and Julia (Kate Winslet), have their own beef with each other. In the middle of that, add the extravagant daughter Helen (Toni Collette) and the son Connor (Johnny Flynn), who is struggling with the situation.

Obviously, it’s not your usual Christmas film that will warm your heart. In fact, it’s a quietly devastating film. Prepare the tissues because you will cry more than once. More importantly, it successfully avoids the traps of melodrama. It’s a wholehearted exploration of messy family dynamics. This is why it works and why it’s compelling and relatable. Even though the story deals with imminent loss, it still manages to be tender. Nevertheless, could it be a film you watch during Christmas time? Yes, it’s a film that reminds you we only have one family and that we should show them love while they’re still here because you never know what might happen.

A DIRECTORIAL DEBUT

We all know Kate Winslet’s name for her talent as an actress. She’s been nominated for 7 Oscars and even won one. But this time, she takes on an exercise she had never attempted before. Indeed, she makes her directorial debut with Goodbye June. You can tell she has learned from the best because this is a solid debut. She has a keen eye for telling her story. She precisely knows how to get the tears from her audience, but also how to show them what matters. On a side note, it’s a story that could also work as a theatre play. I would actually love to see a play adaptation.

Goodbye June Review 2025 (Netflix) — *Andrea Riseborough, Johnny Flynn, Kate Winslet, and Timothy Spall in Goodbye June. Photo Credit: Netflix*

A TREMENDOUS CAST

Moreover, for this film, Kate Winslet has gathered a tremendous cast that is truly convincing as this dysfunctional family. Everyone delivers heartfelt performances. These talented actors and actresses make you feel their sorrows and joys. Kate Winslet and Andrea Riseborough are the real standouts here. The two are outstanding. The way they portray their characters’ beef is quite poignant.

VERDICT

Kate Winslet makes a solid directorial debut. Goodbye June is a quietly devastating and yet tender film about a dysfunctional family facing imminent loss. It successfully steers clear of melodrama. Winslet has gathered a tremendous cast who deliver heartfelt performances.