AfterLife
2003
On the verge of a breakthrough of his career, ambitious young journalist Kenny (Kevin McKidd: Kingdom of Heaven, Trainspotting) learns that his mother May (Lindsay Duncan) is dying of cancer. The discovery forces him to re-evaluate his life and responsibilities - particularly when he inherits the care of his younger sister .. Read more
| Starring | Lindsay Duncan, Kevin McKidd, Paula Sage, James Laurenson |
|---|---|
| Director | Alison Peebles |
| Genres | Drama |
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AfterLife
On the verge of a breakthrough of his career, ambitious young journalist Kenny (Kevin McKidd: Kingdom of Heaven, Trainspotting) learns that his mother May (Lindsay Duncan) is dying of cancer. The discovery forces him to re-evaluate his life and responsibilities - particularly when he inherits the care of his younger sister Roberta (Paula Sage) who has Down's Syndrome.
| Starring | Lindsay Duncan, Kevin McKidd, Paula Sage, James Laurenson, Shirley Henderson |
|---|---|
| Director | Alison Peebles |
| Studio | SODA PICTURES |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 44 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 25 Jul 2005 Production year: 2003 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (4)
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In striving to be topical and controversial, debuting director Alison Peebles winds up being merely melodramatic in this dour slice of Scottish life. The film's agenda is set when journalist Kevin McKidd visits doctor James Laurenson to investigate his links to a Swiss clinic that performs euthanasia. However, McKidd is denied his shot at the big story when his mother (Lindsay Duncan) asks him to return home and look after his sister (Paula Sage), who has Down's syndrome. The revelation that his mother has ovarian cancer and that McKidd must now take responsibility for his sister comes as no surprise and, therefore, carries too little emotional weight. The cast works hard, with both Duncan and Sage refusing to court easy sympathy, but Peebles's storytelling lacks a certain finesse.
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22 assorted, deceased individuals check into a former rural school serving as a halfway house where they are allowed... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
This film has issues
If you like films which addresses more difficult 'issues', this is one for you. From the start it dives into euthanasia, then quickly moves through rights of the mentally disabled to experience risks of life, love vs sex, dealing with difficult life decisions where there is no right answer, and long term care of the disabled.
Paula Sage carries the film - she helps those who do not come into regular contact with learning disability to look beyond the body into the person inside.
Unfulfilled ambition is a recurring theme for the able bodied while Roberta (Paula Sage) shows how she is able to achieve hers in her spare time.
I only scored a five for the film, because despite the above, I thought Kenny (Kevin McKidd) overplayed the bad guy - I couldn't believe anyone could be so egocentric at the start of the film, but then maybe I've just lived a sheltered life!
Overall a good film to make you smile...and think. -
Most recent members' review
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
afterlife, i took a while but
As i say it took me a while to get into after life but i enjoyed it, after seeing members of my own family die from cancer it hit a nerve but i stuck to it and watched the lot.
Hat off to paule sage her character was amazing, the brother was harder to warm to.
It will make you think about the touchy subject of euthanasia but maybe that aint a bad thing. -
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AfterLife
On the verge of a breakthrough of his career, ambitious young journalist Kenny (Kevin McKidd: Kingdom of Heaven, Trainspotting) learns that his mother May (Lindsay Duncan) is dying of cancer. The discovery forces him to re-evaluate his life and responsibilities - particularly when he inherits the ...
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